For the first time in five years, a Maryland Little League State Tournament will be hosted at South Baltimore Little League (SBLL) in Locust Point. The baseball facility at 1101 E. Fort Ave. will host the the 9-11 Year Old Baseball State Tournament kicking off this Saturday, July 13th. The tournament will go until July 18th or July 19th.
SBLL’s 9-11 Year Old Baseball team, which is the District 4 Champions, has a first-round bye and will play its first game on Sunday, July 14th at 1130am on Field 1. The team is coached by Kenny Kulesz, who expects the squad to make some noise in the tournament.
In regards to the 8-10 Year Old Baseball and 9-11 Year Old Baseball teams that were “happy to make it” to state tournaments last year, Kulesz said both teams “expect to compete” this year. He noted the bar has been raised at SBLL.
The SBLL 8-10 Year Old Baseball team will compete in the state tournament in Hagerstown beginning Saturday.
SBLL’s 10-12 Year Old Baseball team won District 4 for the first time in 31 years and will play in the Maryland State Tournament beginning on July 20th in Southern Maryland. SBLL’s 11-13 Intermediate Baseball team was District 4 Champions for the first time ever, but was eliminated last week in the Maryland State Tournament.
SBLL’s newly-formed softball league is rapidly growing and its 8-10 Year Old Softball team also won a District 4 Championship.
“We are thrilled to see our success this year across all our divisions,” said SBLL President Brendan O’Brien. “It’s clear the work our players and volunteers have put in this year has made us competitive on a state level. We are thrilled with where we are now and and we expect to build on that success and be competitive for many years to come.”
The state tournament this weekend at SBLL will bring seven teams to the complex. The teams come from as far east as Berlin (139 miles) and as far west as Hagerstown. The region champion Little Leagues visiting are Hub City, Montgomery, Rising Sun, Dorcester, Calvert American, and Berlin.
SBLL is encouraging these teams to stay in local hotels, visit local attractions, attend an Orioles game, and support local restaurants and businesses, especially sponsors of the organization. Each team will be offered an informational packet about South Baltimore.
There will be a variety of tournament and SBLL gear, as well as Orioles gear donated from the team, sold during the tournament. SBLL’s concession stand will also be open and offer Baltimore-themed specials. Local celebrities will throw out the first pitch to start the tournament and at SBLL’s first game on Sunday.
SBLL board members and volunteers are stepping up to make sure the event is a success.
While many baseball complexes are out in suburban and rural areas, SBLL is excited to show off its urban campus.
“We think we offer a completely unique environment,” said Kulesz. “You can stay in a hotel next to our campus, walk to the grocery store, walk to grab breakfast.”
“Let’s put the charm in Charm City and send them home with an experience they will never forget,” said O’Brien. “Let’s show them the Baltimore we fell in love with, and the reason we stay: Our community.”
SBLL is hoping this state tournament is the first of many in South Baltimore.
Kulesz noted the athletes on the team are proud to represent Baltimore, and that the program added ‘City Connect’ uniforms this year with the Baltimore City flag on the hat and matching black and yellow through the uniform. The team is hoping for a big crowd to watch SBLL games and know the environment could be heightened with a run in the tournament.
Kulesz is excited about this group of baseball players and hopes the high caliber of baseball on display in South Baltimore will inspire younger athletes in the community.
Drone photos courtesy Sean Monahan
Click to enlarge bracket
