JEFFERSONVILLE – For the first time in history, Bedford will be represented in the 12U Little League Great Lakes Regional.
Bedford won its first state championship on Tuesday night, edging HYR (Floyd Central) 3-2 in the title contest. Bedford advanced to the regional level, a double-elimination tournament featuring state champions from Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Michigan. That winner will qualify for the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
After defeating Martinsville (12-1), Franklin (9-0) and Greenwood (12-0) to win the District 12 title, Bedford swept through Jeffersonville (5-1), Wabash (8-3), Brownsburg (6-5) and Floyd to claim the state crown.
“It’s been great,” head coach Casey Jones said. “We put this team together, and we told the parents from the first meeting, that we could compete for the state and win the state. That’s exactly what we did. We beat some good teams in close games, and we made history. Now we’re headed to uncharted territory.”
Team members include Cale Prince, Jay Hout, Colby Jones, Ben Spreen, Bear Browning, Saxton Pennycuff, Hunter Chastain, Joe Conover, Colt Robbins, Garrett Pace, Hudson Kern and Owen Fausett. Other coaches include Corey Chastain and Justin Hout.
“They all practiced as hard as they could to get to this point,” Jones said. “They gritted their teeth and came through. We got punched in the mouth a couple of times, and here we are.”
Bedford will meet Illinois in the first regional game (at Whitestown, Ind.) on Saturday, Aug. 5. The game will be televised on ESPN-Plus.
