The Sprague Little League all stars held a car wash fundraiser on Saturday. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter)
UPDATE TUESDAY, Aug. 6: The Sprague Little League team came from behind to beat Montana 8-7 at the Little League Baseball Northwest Regional tournament in California. The team advances to a game at noon Thursday against Idaho. A win there would put them in the title game scheduled for Saturday.
The Sprague Little League major baseball all stars had a first this year, winning the state title and advancing to the regional competition in California next week.
On Saturday, the team held a car wash to raise money to travel to the competition with a goal of $2,000.
Drivers handed the kids $20 bills without even getting their cars washed.
The Salem crew’s first regional game will be nationally televised at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5, on EPSN+, a subscription broadcast channel. The game is in San Bernardino, California and the winner of the tournament will go on to play in the Little League World Series.
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Team President Tony Strenke said the community has really come together to support the team, adding that local attorney Kevin Lafky is matching the funds they raise.
The all stars have gone undefeated this season, Strenke said.
Little League Manager Travis Price credits the team’s success to practicing early.
Price built a 2,200-square-foot batting facility in a pole barn and the kids started hitting in December, months before other LIttle Leagues usually start.
Price said the team – comprised of Jacob Hoda, Avery Lohrman, Carson McNally, Henry Mhoon, Andrew Mhoon, Sullivan Puckett, Gavin Price, Aeden Saele, Spencer Shortis, Brady Strenke, Tommy VanBishler, Cameron van Kempen, and Riley Wilson – hit once a week in the winter at a minimum.
“I think since December we’ve always been concerned about process and not necessarily outcome,” Price said.
He took over the team last year, having the kids get thousands of swings in before the season even started in late March.
“I knew they were going to do better than in the years past,” he said.
Price said Murray Hill – the Beaverton team the boys defeated in the state tournament — was usually a team that would be so dominating that opponents’ spirit was broken by the second inning.
Sprague lost to Murray Hill 8-0 last year.
When the boys beat Murray Hill for the first time 3-2 on July 16, Price said, “They knew that this was the turning point.”
After July’s state tournament win, Price said he saw boys crying out of joy.
“It’s a weird deal. I get emotional just thinking about it,” Price said.
When asked if the boys victory follows a common baseball theme – the underdog rising up to take the win – Price said that was what the state championship felt like.
During the game the starting pitcher, Cameron Van Kempen, got tired, so Price brought in Carson McNally.
“That kid to me is the Disney story,” Price said.
He said McNally didn’t make the 11U team last year, but instead of complaining he kept practicing on his own.
At the championship game, McNally called a curveball with a full count bases loaded.
McNally threw it for a strike.
“Basically, a kid who never pitched closed the state championship game and won,” he said.
Price remembers watching the Little League World Series with the boys last year during practices.
“It’s kind of the pinnacle if you’re 12 and play baseball,” he said.
Strenke said, “Travis has given these kids a lot of time and the way he works with them, he empowers all of them to be the best they can be and he gives them a lot of hope.”
Strenke said he’s never seen a group of kids respond to a coach like they have with Price.
“I texted him the other day and I said I know you want the W,” Strenke said of Price. “He said, ‘It’s not about the win for me. It’s about the development of the kids and the kids having fun.’”
Strenke said he took video of the last 18 minutes of the championship game and said it was a surreal feeling when they won.
“When they threw the last pitch and we won, everybody threw their mitts up,” he said.
Strenke has a son on the team whose dream has been to go to regionals.
“I’m excited for my son, and also this has never been done before from Sprague Little League. And I’m just really excited to be part of it.”
Have a tip? Contact reporter Saphara Harrell at 503-549-6250, [email protected] or @daisysaphara.
