Metro Detroit Little League Team Hits World Series Stage

Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores baseball team looks for win, lasting memories as 2017 Little League World Series begins.

Courtesy of Little League Baseball and Softball

A Metro Detroit baseball team is preparing for its time on the big stage as it begins play in the Little League World Series.

The Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores team of 12-year-old ballplayers rallied from behind to earn a berth in the tournament as the representative of the Great Lakes region.

 

“I was told…6,600 teams started out in this tournament…and there are only 16 teams in the world that are left. I don’t think that you could really ask for much more from a 12-year-old kid than to do that.” — Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Head Coach Jason Hill

 

And Head Coach Jason Hill says he’s trying to ensure his team has a memorable experience in the World Series tournament.

But Hill says he’s also trying to keep his players from being overwhelmed.

“You’re gonna see this on ESPN and ESPN2 every day for the next two weeks,” he says. “And 700 – 800 journalists will be here during the Little League World Series, which is amazing to me as well.”

Hill says the team will fight for the world championship.

But he says just earning a berth in the finals of the global competition is a victory.

“Just to throw this crazy number at you, and I was told this, 6,600 teams started out in this tournament probably about five weeks ago. And there are only 16 teams in the world that are left…I don’t think that you could really ask for much more from a 12-year-old kid than to do that. So in my book we’ve already won,” Hill says.

Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores last reached the Little League World Series in 2013.

Click on the audio link above to hear the full conversation

 

Courtesy of Little League Baseball and Softball

 

Author

  • Quinn Klinefelter
    Quinn Klinefelter is a Senior News Editor at 101.9 WDET. In 1996, he was literally on top of the news when he interviewed then-Senator Bob Dole about his presidential campaign and stepped on his feet.