The Bowling Green East 11- and 12-year-old Little League All-Stars team huddle together during practice at the Diamond on Tuesday. The team, which won the Kentucky Little League State Tournament championship last week, will travel to Whitestown, Indiana, to compete in the Little League Baseball Great Lakes Region Tournament.

The Bowling Green East 10-12 Little League All-Stars’ quest for history begins Saturday at the Great Lakes Regional in Indianapolis.

The winner of the five-team field – which includes state champions from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois – advances to South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, later this month as part of the Little League World Series field.

Bowling Green is looking to claim the Great Lakes title for the fourth time – all since 2015 – and the first since 2019.

BG manager Jef Goodnight said he likes the momentum his team has after two close battles to close out the state title in Corbin.

“It’s something we have talked about,” Goodnight said. “These kids have really been focused on that kind of goal. A lot of these kids went in 2015 when we went and they were 5, 6, 7 and so that has kind of been their goal. Hopefully, they can do it. They are very talented, probably one of the most talented teams we’ve had to go through here, so they have a good shot.”

Bowling Green won the state title after rallying from 3-1 down to beat Lexington Eastern 4-3 in the semifinals before defeating Oldham County 1-0 in the championship. Henry Phillips threw a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts in the championship game.

“I know a lot of people are not going to believe this, but I never doubted these kids when they were down 3-1,” Goodnight said. “They have grit. They go out there and get it done. When we came out and got that win, I was not surprised.

“And then in that 1-0 game it was the kind of baseball game you love to be a part of. I told them in the third inning, ‘All we have to do is give this guy one run. If we give him one run, we are going to win.’ And that’s what happened.”

Phillips said he couldn’t have done it without his teammates.

“I really didn’t have any worries because the defense behind me had my back,” Phillips said. “It was special because I had support behind me.”

BG East’s trajectory has been similar to the 2019 team. Both teams lost in the district championship as 8-10s, with East losing last year in the semifinals of the state. In that game, East was rallying down 4-3 in the fifth with two runners on when the game was stopped – and eventually called – due to rain. Tournament officials declared the game complete since four innings had been played and by rule the contest could not be resumed the following day.

“I think it’s motivated us,” BG East’s Pipes Gaines said. “We’ve played together since we were 7 or 8. We got state taken away from us last year, so that gave us extra motivation.”

Goodnight said he can see that determination in the team.

“I think it has definitely made them tighter, even hungrier,” Goodnight said. “They just like to compete. They don’t like to lose.”

Bowling Green opens play against Tecumseh, Michigan, at 9 a.m. CDT on Saturday in the opening game of the double-elimination tournament. The winner faces West Side Little League from Hamilton, Ohio, at 3 p.m. CDT on Sunday. The winner will advance to Monday’s semifinal.

A loss at any point, and East would have to play four straight days to get to Wednesday’s final. The championship is scheduled for 6 p.m. CDT and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

“In the past we were fortunate enough to get the bye,” Goodnight said. “This year we don’t get the bye. We have to play our way through, which is fine because we are pretty deep in pitching. I feel really good about any of the kids we put on the mound.”

This is the first time BG East will play in the Great Lakes Region without longtime coach Rick Kelley, who passed away in October 2022. Kelley coached Little League for 42 years and was the manager the previous three times BG East made it to the Little League World Series.

This group of kids were the last ones that Kelley coached.

“He always said they were special,” Goodnight said. “He always said this will be the next group that got him back to Williamsport. Coach Kelley and I were very close. We have a very special bond, so we kind of carry that with us. I think Rick was with us over in Corbin and he’s going to be with us (in Indianapolis). I think that gives them an extra level of comfort. Everything we do, we follow Rick’s plan because Rick had a plan.

“These kids want to do something special for him.”

Phillips agreed that the team would love to honor Kelley with a trip to South Williamsport.

“It means a lot to us because he knew we were special,” Phillips said. “He was a great coach.”{&end}