Mount Vernon News

INDIANAPOLIS — The last week has been the best week of several Mount Vernon 12-year-olds’ lives. For those playing in the Great Lakes Regional in Indianapolis, the last week has been a dream come true.

Now, those same Little Leaguers have an opportunity to introduce themselves to the world with a pair of wins today and Saturday. Mount Vernon (2-2) will face Kentucky (3-1) in the second semifinal tonight at 7:30. Indiana (3-1) will face Illinois (2-2) at 4:30 p.m.

For the 12 Mount Vernon players involved, this has been a great experience. It is something thousands of other teams would jump at if given the opportunity.

“This has been pretty exciting,” said Chase Springer. “We’ve been around other teams, and we’ve been having a lot of fun. We’ve had some great times. Playing our games and winning two was great. Even though we lost two, I still had an exciting time in those games.”

“This has been a great experience; a lot of fun,” Austin Blanton said. “I am so excited, but nervous at the same time.”

The trip to Indianapolis has been especially rewarding for two members of the team. J.D. Orr and Alex Arck, both 11-year-olds, were selected to play in the postseason, and that has not gone unappreciated.

“This is really cool,” said Orr. “I didn’t expect to be on the 12-year-old team. I expected to be on the 11-year-old team. Being on this team is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. … This has helped me a lot. It is just unbelievable.”

“Being an 11-year-old, this is just amazing,” said Arck. “I am having so much fun. It has been a great experience. … I was nervous before we came. I just knew I had to step up my game.”

While the purpose of the trip is to play baseball, the players have also had a lot of downtime. At the Reuben F. Glick Little League Center, players can swim, play tennis, basketball, pingpong, and visit the batting cages in their spare time. But it was the specially arranged trip to an Indianapolis Indians’ game that is making it memorable.

“Going to the Triple-A game was pretty exciting,” Springer said. “I didn’t get the one thing I wanted — a foul ball or a home run ball — but it was a lot of fun.”

“That was an experience because we got to get autographs signed by the bullpen,” Orr said. “It was an awesome opportunity.”

Mount Vernon has played against some of the top competition in the United States and watched others from the Midwest Region battle it out. It is those experiences that have taught many valuable lessons.

“I’ve learned you can’t always think about yourself,” said Springer. “You have to think about your team. If you play as a team, you are going to win. I’m probably a better player now than I was when we started.”

“You have to play tough all the time because nobody is going to give you any slack,” said Blanton. “You have to play hard all the time.

“We are trying to act as a team. It doesn’t work out all the time, but we are trying.”

“I’ve learned a little bit. We are just having a great time here,” Arck said. “Teamwork has played a big part.”

It will take some serious teamwork for Mount Vernon to achieve its goal of a regional title. It is not anything they haven’t already faced, however. This team believes it is ready for the task at hand.

“I’m nervous for our team; I’m nervous and I’m pumped,” said Orr.

“I am pretty nervous, but I am also so excited,” Blanton said. “This has gone by so fast. It is going to be sweet for sure.”