Hills Little League to take on the world’s best again
THE Hills has made Little League history as the first Australian club to attend back-to-back World Series.
Local Sports Stars
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THE Hills has made Little League history as the first Australian club to attend back-to-back World Series baseball championships after taking out the national title at the weekend.
Hills defeated the Western Australia’s Swan Hills Aces 8-4 in the final of the championships at Blacktown’s International Sports Park on Sunday.
This is the second Hills team to compete in the World Series, with their junior team qualifying for their event in May, where they beat Ryde 7-1 to book their tickets for the Junior League World Series in Taylor, Michigan, from August 13-20.
In last weekend’s finale, the Hills took an 8-0 lead on the back of a towering two-run home run to Stephen Courtney.
Courtney followed that up with a three-run triple to put Hills in a commanding position after dominating Swan Hills with his pitching performance on the mound.
Harrison Wheeldon and Tyler Spiteri also hit well for Hills, picking up a pair of hits each.
Hills manager Chris Swan said: “To reach this point takes a huge commitment from players, parents and administrators.”
Hills’ 2017 championship team has three players returning from last year’s historic run at the Little League World Series, with Courtney, Ethan Treble and Wheeldon all making a rare second appearance at the biggest Little League event on the planet.
Hills travel to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to take on the best teams from all over the world at the 2017 Little League World Series.
The World Series starts on August 17, and Hills will take on Japan’s Little League champions on August 19.
The Hills Little League team is also the reigning Local Sports Star champion in the Team Spirit category and have again been nominated for the prize. Nominations are open in individual and team categories.
Nominate at localsportsstars.com.au
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