The Hills Junior Baseball Association made history tonight, becoming the first Australian team to win two games at the Little League World Series after a tightly fought 2-1 victory over The Caribbean at Volunteer Stadium.
Clayton Campbell started on the mound for Hills, and put up the most dominant performance by an Australian at the Little League World Series, striking out an incredible 14 hitters and in turn, breaking Blake Cavill’s Australian record of 10 at the 2015 tournament.
Campbell said that he wasn’t feeling 100% pre-game.
“To be honest I felt pretty shaky in the bullpen during the warm-up,” Campbell said.
“But once I got out there, the crowd cheering me on really helped me focus.”
Hills took an early lead in the first inning, when catcher Matthew Clements scored Harry Wheeldon on an RBI single to left field.
Pinch-hitting in the nine hole, Stephen Courtney came up with the biggest hit of his life in the fifth. A solo home run increased Australia’s lead to two, and made the lead near insurmountable with three outs left for The Caribbean.
A feature of this Hills team at the 2016 Little League World Series has been their composure under pressure, and Head Coach Les Stockdale has been overwhelmed by his team’s performances.
“The distractions here are like nothing we’ve ever come across,” Stockdale said.
“It’s very easy to become overwhelmed by signing autographs and being the stars of the show, but our boys have handled themselves to perfection.”
Hills started to show some rare nerves in the final inning, when a wild throw from catcher Matthew Clements enabled a run to score, but Campbell did what Campbell does, and finished the game with his 14th strikeout to seal an unforgettable victory for Hills Little League.
Hills have sealed a top eight finish at the Little League World Series, and they’ll look to push even further forward in the competition as they take on Mexico at 1pm tomorrow (3am AEST).
Baseball Australia Hall-of-Fame member and current National Team Coach, Jon Deeble, will return to Melbourne to manage the Melbourne Aces ahead of their 2016/17 ABL campaign.
A legend within Australian Baseball circles, Deeble last managed an ABL team in 1998/99 where he was in charge of the then Melbourne Monarchs.
Deeble has spent time managing within the Boston Red Sox Organisation and has led the Australian National Team to two World Championship campaigns and two Olympic Games, taking the Australian team to its only ever Olympic Medal in Baseball (Silver Medal, Athens, 2004).
Melbourne Aces General Manager Justin Huber said it’s a real coup for the Aces to be able to attract a coach of Deeble’s standing and experience back to Melbourne.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be announcing Jon Deeble as the new Melbourne Ace’s Manager,” said Huber.
“We’ve been on this journey for 18 months and we see Jon’s appointment as the missing piece in taking Victorian baseball back to our traditional standing as a national leader of this sport.”
Deeble, who is in Melbourne, this week said he sees plenty of opportunity for the Aces, as well as the baseball, to grow in Victoria.
“This is Victoria’s team and we’ve got a great opportunity to firstly help develop the sport and secondly, to connect with Clubs around Victoria,” said Deeble.
“Similar to the days of the Reds, the Monarchs and the Claxton Shield, we want to bring baseball people back to the ballpark.”
Baseball Australia Hall-of-Fame member and current National Team Coach, Jon Deeble, will return to Melbourne to manage the Melbourne Aces ahead of their 2016/17 ABL campaign.
A legend within Australian Baseball circles, Deeble last managed an ABL team in 1998/99 where he was in charge of the then Melbourne Monarchs.
Deeble has spent time managing within the Boston Red Sox Organisation and has led the Australian National Team to two World Championship campaigns and two Olympic Games, taking the Australian team to its only ever Olympic Medal in Baseball (Silver Medal, Athens, 2004).
Melbourne Aces General Manager Justin Huber said it’s a real coup for the Aces to be able to attract a coach of Deeble’s standing and experience back to Melbourne.
“I couldn’t be more excited to be announcing Jon Deeble as the new Melbourne Ace’s Manager,” said Huber.
“We’ve been on this journey for 18 months and we see Jon’s appointment as the missing piece in taking Victorian baseball back to our traditional standing as a national leader of this sport.”
Deeble, who is in Melbourne, this week said he sees plenty of opportunity for the Aces, as well as the baseball, to grow in Victoria.
“This is Victoria’s team and we’ve got a great opportunity to firstly help develop the sport and secondly, to connect with Clubs around Victoria,” said Deeble.
“Similar to the days of the Reds, the Monarchs and the Claxton Shield, we want to bring baseball people back to the ballpark.”
President of Baseball Victoria Myles Foreman says it’s another win for the sport.
“Getting Jon back to Melbourne is great for the Aces but also represents a massive opportunity for all of baseball in Victoria.
“With the integration between BV’s existing high-performance programs and the Aces program we’re going to see more young Victorian players in front of the National Team coach on a regular basis.”
The Melbourne Aces season gets underway on Friday 18 November against the four-time ABL Champions the Perth Heat.
Please note it is not mandatory to have a background in baseball to apply.
WILLIAMSPORT, Penn. – After a history making victory in their first game of the tournament, Hills Little League showed some serious determination and grit, matching it with the powerful Aguadulce Cabezera Little League from Panama, but ultimately Hills were defeated in the cruellest of ways, losing 3-2 after a walk-off base on balls in the bottom of the 6th.
After struggling with Aguadulce Cabzera’s starting pitcher all day, Brent Iredale brought the house down in the top of the 6th after a two-run blast to right field tied the ballgame.
Clayton Campbell made his second start of the World Series, but only ended up throwing two innings; Campbell also claimed a pair of singles, the only Australian to claim multiple hits on the day.
Will Edwards came on in relief and threw strongly, mixing his pitches well and keeping the Latin American side off balance.
Hills’ head coach Les Stockdale was extremely proud of his team.
“You can’t be disappointed with a performance like that,” Stockdale said.
“We didn’t give up all day and really showed a lot of heart. We took it to one of the tournament’s best teams and we’re looking forward to taking on the Caribbean tomorrow.”
Entering the final inning, Australia trailed 2-0, but after Clayton Campbell led off with a single, Brent Iredale had his moment of greatness, blasting a two run shot that tied the ballgame up and sent Australian fans into raptures.
Head coach Les Stockdale praised Iredale’s mindset.
“He’s a really mature kid,” Stockdale said.
“If there is ever a kid that doesn’t get overawed in the moment, it’s Brent. His calmness and approach is first class, it doesn’t phase him.”
Latin America had a chance to steal victory in the final inning, and with two outs and loaded bases, Jose Torres earned a walk and snatched a win for his team.
Hills now takes on Pariba Little League from Willemstad, Curaçao in an elimination game tomorrow at 5pm (7am AEST).
Abbey Kelly, Bronwyn Gell, Leslie Anglin, and Shae Lillywhite have booked their tickets to South Korea in pursuit of a little piece of baseball history, chasing Australia’s first ever Women’s World Cup gold medal after podium finishes in two of the past three tournaments.
Earlier this month, the four girls were named as a part of the Australian Emeralds following a week-long training camp on the Gold Coast under the watchful eye of National Team Coach Simone Wearne.
Since the announcement the girls have increased their training workload by adding extra sessions with the Women’s Aces Academy under the watchful eyes of Sam Hamilton (north), Simone Wearne (south) and Dean Anglin (west).
23-year-old Bronwyn Gell who started in the sport as a nine-year-old with Essendon’s T-Ball program will make her fourth World Cup appearance and says the team is in good shape to again challenge for medals.
“The group of girls we have has bonded really well together.
“We’ve got eleven girls making their debut for Australia but most of them have been around the squad and the National program for a while so it’s a really good mix of rookies and veterans.”
Among the debutants is 17-year-old Abbey Kelly (Essendon/Melbourne University/Westgarth) and 31-year-old Leslie Anglin (Newport/East Belmont/Essendon), while Shae Lillywhite (Springvale/Berwick) who has played in every World Cup since the tournament’s inception will make her sixth appearance.
Japan will start as the team to beat having won the previous four World Cups while the Emeralds, currently ranked third in the world, have drawn the USA (2), Chinese Taipei (6) and Hong Kong (9) in the opening pool rounds.
The Australian team will arrive in Seoul on the 26th of August where they will play a series of practice games before the tournament officially starts on the 3rd of September.
Australian Coach Simone Wearne says she’s hopeful the Emeralds can build on their 2014 success.
“2016 is going to become a year to remember for women’s baseball in this country.
“With the growth of the sport this year as well as the new partnership with Boral, we’re excited to get over to Korea and continue the success.”
READ: FULL TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT via Baseball Australia
Tournament Details
Gijang, South Korea
Saturday 3 September – Sunday 11 September
WILLIAMSPORT, Penn. – Anchored by an incredible start by Clayton Campbell, Hills Little League became the first Australian team in history to win their opening game of a Little League World Series as they defeated Emilia Little League (ITA) 3-1 in an epic encounter.
Campbell was lights out on the mound, striking out seven in five perfect innings of work and was backed up well by his team, with Hills doing the job on defence.
Hills Manager Les Stockdale was delighted with Campbell’s performance.
“Every time he goes out and pitches, he’s going to dominate,” Stockdale said.
“Hitters have real trouble catching up with his fastball, and to go no hits through five on the biggest stage in the world is an incredible effort.”
Australia took the lead early with Ryley Gonzalez driving in Will Edwards in the second inning, and the advantage extended in the third, with Clayton Campbell claiming an RBI after he scored Will Unitt in with a single.
The hits came consistently for Australia, as they kept finding ways to score. Harry Wheeldon added the third run of the ballgame in the fourth, as a single to left field gave Stephen Courtney the chance to cross home and extend Australia’s advantage.
Wheeldon then came into the game on the mound in the final frame to close it out. A passed ball saw Emilia pull a run back, but when Wheeldon struck out Francesco Segreto for the final out, euphoria ensued for Hills’ parents and players, a much-deserved reward for the team after a titanic first game.
Australia’s next game at the Little League World Series sees them match up with Aguadulce Cabezera Little League, a team from Panama representing Latin America. Aguadulce defeated Mexican team San Nicolas Little League 10-2 in the opening game of the tournament. Australia’s next game takes place on Sunday the 21st at 11am (1am AEST on Monday 22nd August).
Stay tuned with everything Little League at www.littleleague.org.au.
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Australian Little League is great. The Australian Baseball League is great, but the Little League World Series is unbelievable.
For the host town, Williamsport, Pennsylvania, every single part of the place comes alive when the Little League World Series is in town. Everybody flocks to the ‘Grand Slam Parade’, which is the introduction of all 16 teams participating.
The Little League World Series is the Disneyland of baseball. For those that have never been before, imagine that you’re at your son/daughter’s U13 footy or netball grand final, then imagine all teams are read out and they’re on a float that 1000s of people are cheering for as they trek down the main street of your town.
There are thousands of people watching live and on their local television station. On top of that there are hundreds of thousands of dollars sponsoring it.
The camaraderie between teams is simply infectious. After talking for merely minutes, Park View Little League from Chula Vista, California were mates with the Australian contingent. “Aussie, Aussie?!’ was chanted, and the Park View LL parents embraced the demonstration of Australian pride, and came back with “Oi, oi, oi!.”
They learned about that chant five minutes earlier, which shows first hand the sportsmanship and mindset of the parents with children playing.
“We’re here to meet new people and make friends for life.”
An Australian parent said that earlier today, and it couldn’t ring truer about the attitude of the people involved with the Little League World Series.
Essentially, the Little League World Series is Willy Wonka’s Golden Ticket for baseball. These kids are 11 and 12 years old, and they’re the centrepiece in a parade in front of 2000 people of a town that just populates just over 30,000 people.
The Little League World Series is a celebration of the purest form of baseball. Forget contracts, endorsements and signing bonuses. These kids are here to play the game, and that mindset makes the Little League World Series one of the greatest events in the world.
By Nina Zimmerman
TAYLOR, Mich. — Australia rallied late but couldn’t overcome a powerful side from Panama in the team’s second game of the Junior League World Series, falling by a final score of 14-3 in five innings.
With the loss, Australia moves into the consolation bracket, and will continue to play over the next few days until the tournament ends on Sunday, 21 August.
Panama, representing Latin America Region, jumped on the board early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning, and added to the lead with an eight-run second frame.
Undaunted by the deficit, Australia erased the shutout with a run in the top of the fourth. Luke Krkovski started the rally with a one-out single, and later stole second base before advancing to third on an error by the Panama catcher. Pinch hitter Joshua Pearl then drove Krkovski home on a sacrifice fly.
Australia cut into the lead further in the fifth, thanks to a leadoff homer off the bat of Adam Mustow. However, Panama scored three times in the bottom half of the frame, ending the ballgame.
More information about the 2016 JLWS can be found here.
After one of the most dominant performances in recent memory at an Australian Little League Championship, NSW side Hills are representing the Australia Region at the 2016 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania starting this week.
Before the Gold Medal Game of the Australian Little League Championship against Central Coast, Hills had scored 68 runs and only conceded one in their first six games of the tournament. Hills were pushed by Central Coast in the final, but eventually booked their ticket to Williamsport with a 7-3 victory.
Australia’s representation at the Little League World Series dates back to 2013, when the Perth Metro Firebirds travelled to Williamsport as the first team in the World Series’ 67-year history to hail from the land down under. Since then, Perth’s Northern Metros and NSW’s Cronulla Little League charters have represented the Australian region on the biggest stage in Little League baseball.
All of Australia’s games at the Little League World Series are broadcast LIVE on ESPN, with the first game vs. Europe Africa, who this year are represented by Italian little league side from Emilia. Australia’s game against Emilia Little league takes place at 5pm (7am AEST) on the 18th of August. Depending on their opening game’s result, Australia will take on either Aguadulce Cabezera Little League from Panama, or San Nicolás Little League from Mexico.
The 2015 edition of the Little League World Series was taken out by Tokyo Kitasuna Little League from Japan, after they defeated Red Land Little League from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania in the final.
Stay involved with Hills’ journey, including photos, videos and livestream information from the Little League World Series at www.littleleague.org.au.