TAYLOR — The Taylor North Little League team can qualify for the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., with a victory at 5 p.m. today over the Hinsdale Little League, representing Illinois in the Great Lakes Little League Regional. No Taylor team has ever qualified for the Little League World Series.
The game is being broadcast live by ESPN. A watch party will be held in the Lake House Bar & Grille in the Lakes of Taylor Golf Course’s clubhouse. The facility will be offering a steak dinner special for only $12 per person.
Taylor North has swept through the Little League postseason like a whirlwind to this point in time, grabbing District 5 and State of Michigan championships without a loss. In the Great Lakes Regional being held in Whitestown, Ind., they have stormed to a 2-0 record by outscoring teams from Wisconsin and Indiana by a 19-1 margin. Illinois has played just one game thus far in the tournament, beating Kentucky, 5-1, behind two hits from Cam Linn and the pitching of Quinn Rooney.
Taylor North is made up of Manager Rick Thorning and coaches Guido Ulin and Jason Surma; and players Chauncy Adkins, Noah Boren, Lucas Farner, Jakob Fukas, Kale Harris, Max LaForest, Jaxon Shufeldt, Jackson Surma, Cameron Thorning, Gavin Ulin and Ethan VanBelle,
In Taylor North’s most recent victory against Brownsburg, Ind., Farner had four hits, Jaxson Surma three and Cameron Thorning two including a big home run early over the center field fence. The trio combined for seven RBI.
In the earlier win against Elmsbrook, Wis., Surma, Thorning and Farner each had two hits and Gavin Ulin had two walks and two RBI in the 10-0 mercy win.
The winner of today’s game goes directly into the championship contest, scheduled for 4 p.m. Aug. 14. The loser would fall into the consolation bracket final against Ohio on Aug. 13, with the winner of that game claiming the other slot in the finals (and the second qualifying spot for the Little League World Series).
Usually, only one team from each regional in the United States qualifies for the Little League World Series. This year, due to pandemic issues, no international teams are invited, so two U.S. teams from each region of the country will qualify.