The Bainbridge Island’s Little League 10/11 All Star baseball team is right where they wanted to be, and right where they hoped to be.
On the road to State.
The Bainbridge All Star team roared through the District 2 Tournament to claim the district championship.
The team’s coach said the boys’ hard work paid off at the district showdown with a perfect performance in the double-elimination tournament in Port Orchard.
District 2 is made up of teams from Kitsap, Pierce, Mason, Jefferson and Clallam counties, and Bainbridge beat the best of them with four straight wins, and finished with an 8-2 victory over Gig Harbor.
“We went 4-0 through the tournament and then, ultimately, Gig Harbor National for the championship,” said Paul Kruglik, team manager.
“This team is super resilient. Great chemistry on this team,” Kruglik said, adding that Bainbridge was relaxed but ready for the championship game.
“Our message to them was, ‘Relax, have fun and enjoy it.’”
The All-Star team — made up of players nominated by coaches in the Bainbridge league — is Parker Kruglik, Henry Wikstrom, Andrew Jobes, Will Rohrbacher, Braden French, Issac Sellers, Issac Ellis, Reed Grandt, Owen Sweeny, Monte Horowitz, McCrea Curfman, AJ Larsen and Bennett Hay, with assistant coaches Eric Wikstrom and Jason Jobes.
“We’ve worked really hard to get where we are,” Kruglik said of the boys, adding that the team has been having long practices every day to prepare for post-season play.
And now it’s time to play for the state title.
“Our motto and our team cheer is, ‘Eyes on state,’” Kruglik said. “Our eye has been set on this bigger, more ultimate goal all along.”
The state tournament, also a double-elimination affair, starts Sunday, July 15 in SeaTac.
Bainbridge doesn’t know who it will take the field against, as the boys have a first-round bye.
Team officials hope that what’s carried the team so far will continue to spell success for the squad; hard work and commitment to the team.
“Nothing really changes going into the state tournament,” Kruglik said.
