Everybody remembers the LL World Series Championship Team from Valley Sports and they continue to have those "Where are they Now?" questions asked. A lot of people fail to remember that Kentucky also had another 12u World Series Champion that same season. That being the Cal Ripkin All Star team out of Lexington who went on to capture that division's World Series. My question is, what ever became of that group of players? I remember Tyler Hatfield, that played for Lexington Catholic was a member of that team. How about some of the other players from that squad? Who were some of those players and what ever became of them? Also would anyone that is familiar with both teams care to speculate how the outcome would have been if both teams were to have faced each other?

My personal opinion would have been the Cal Ripken team, hands down. From my experience of being involved in Little League, AABC, USSSA and Cal Ripken in Ky, Cal Ripken has been the strongest so far.

The Cal Ripken team from Lexington has done pretty well for themselves. Of the 15 boys on that team, 11 of them were playing HS baseball in Lexington this year. Of those 11, 7 have won a state championship and 3 have a runner-up medal. There are 9 that are seniors this year, 4 of them signed early for D1 schools, (that were announced) and others might be going and just not announced. 6 of those seniors will be playing tomorrow in the Senior East-West Game. All in all, a very good team.

The Cal Ripken team from Lexington has done pretty well for themselves. Of the 15 boys on that team, 11 of them were playing HS baseball in Lexington this year. Of those 11, 7 have won a state championship and 3 have a runner-up medal. There are 9 that are seniors this year, 4 of them signed early for D1 schools, (that were announced) and others might be going and just not announced. 6 of those seniors will be playing tomorrow in the Senior East-West Game. All in all, a very good team.

 

 

If you dont mind can you list the players what high school they went or going to and what colleges they are attending.

Jason Langfels from Lafayette High School - Eastern KY

Tyler Oliver from LCA - Marshall

Thomas Royse from Dunbar - Louisville

Taylor Hatfield from Lexington Catholic- Cumberland, TN

Chad Kruger from Dunbar- Western KY ( have not seen this official)

Casey Lucchese from Dunbar- Lakeland CC- Lakeland FLA

Daniel Palombi from Lafayette - Evansville

Eric Mueller from Lafayette- Easter KY (heard this last week)

 

These are all Seniors that I know of their plans Tyler Polley from Tates Creek HS have heard nothing about plans. Tyler Back Junior 1st Baseman from Dunbar and Michael Champa Junior Pitcher and Outfielder at Lexington Catholic.

 

There would not have been a game this South Lexington team was the best team of 12 years olds in this State maybe ever but with out a doubt in the last 10 years. Between these 2 teams there would have been a run rule South Lexington would have smashed them .Team lost 2 games in 4 years collecting Championship in every Tournament ever entered.

 

2004 Lafayette State Runner up Langfels started at 3rd base as freshman hit 5th. 2005 LCA State Championship Oliver started at 1st and hit third leading team in most offensive categories and State All Tournament team .2006 Lexington Catholic State Champions Taylor Hatfield 1st baseman and Michale Champa pitcher(no-hitter in 1st game of the State) then this years 2007 Dunbar State Champions had Thomas Royse 2nd in MR Baseball voting, Tyler Back all State Tournament team, Casey Lucchese All State Tournament team, and Chad Kruger State All Tournament team.

 

This team won in 2001 and is still winning today thanks to the Base that was South Lexington Baseball led by Donnie Warner with 30 years of coaching at the Cal Ripken level.

Jason Langfels from Lafayette High School - Eastern KY

Tyler Oliver from LCA - Marshall

Thomas Royse from Dunbar - Louisville

Taylor Hatfield from Lexington Catholic- Cumberland, TN

Chad Kruger from Dunbar- Western KY ( have not seen this official)

Casey Lucchese from Dunbar- Lakeland CC- Lakeland FLA

Daniel Palombi from Lafayette - Evansville

Eric Mueller from Lafayette- Easter KY (heard this last week)

 

These are all Seniors that I know of their plans Tyler Polley from Tates Creek HS have heard nothing about plans. Tyler Back Junior 1st Baseman from Dunbar and Michael Champa Junior Pitcher and Outfielder at Lexington Catholic.

 

There would not have been a game this South Lexington team was the best team of 12 years olds in this State maybe ever but with out a doubt in the last 10 years. Between these 2 teams there would have been a run rule South Lexington would have smashed them .Team lost 2 games in 4 years collecting Championship in every Tournament ever entered.

 

2004 Lafayette State Runner up Langfels started at 3rd base as freshman hit 5th. 2005 LCA State Championship Oliver started at 1st and hit third leading team in most offensive categories and State All Tournament team .2006 Lexington Catholic State Champions Taylor Hatfield 1st baseman and Michale Champa pitcher(no-hitter in 1st game of the State) then this years 2007 Dunbar State Champions had Thomas Royse 2nd in MR Baseball voting, Tyler Back all State Tournament team, Casey Lucchese All State Tournament team, and Chad Kruger State All Tournament team.

 

This team won in 2001 and is still winning today thanks to the Base that was South Lexington Baseball led by Donnie Warner with 30 years of coaching at the Cal Ripken level.

 

Here is the Valley Sports roster: Where are they now? I don't know for sure but here's some that I saw this year. Here is the link:http://www.littleleague.org/series/2002divisions/llbb/teams/usgreatlakes/team.htm

In front from left are Alex Hornback(PRP JV), Blaine Madden, Josh Robinson, Zachary Osborne( SS-PRP), Shane Logsdon, and Justin Elkins. In back from left are Manager J. Troy Osborne( Thrown out of a regional game at U of L ), Ethan Henry( Butler?) , Casey Jordan( Not Playiing H S ball) , Wesley Walden( All Region PRP) , Coach Keith Elkins, Wesley Jenkins, Jacob Remines, Aaron Alvey( DNP this year) , and Coach Dan Roach( Made Video )

 

As to who would win, are we competing as a 12 year or a 17 year old? I might give the 17 year old but I would not rule out the Valley Sports pitching in the 12 year old game. 77 mph from 46 feet is tough to hit.

FYI-Damon McCormick from X lost to the Valley sports team in the District 1-0 for J-town.

Not knowing anything about the teams, I would say the Lexington Cal Ripken team should have the edge because of the likelihood that it drew players from a larger population base than the Valley Sports program.

 

It's my understanding that Little League rules are fairly strict about the territory from which a league can draw players.

Not knowing anything about the teams, I would say the Lexington Cal Ripken team should have the edge because of the likelihood that it drew players from a larger population base than the Valley Sports program.

 

It's my understanding that Little League rules are fairly strict about the territory from which a league can draw players.

 

The same rules apply to Cal Ripken. In some areas there is a larger territory, but there are 3 Cal Ripken Leagues in Lexington, so the territory cannot be very large. Keep in mind that is only 3 Leagues in the town of Lexington, there are also Cal Ripken leagues in all the surrounding town outside Lexington, so they are not allowed to pull kids from there.

 

Since the question was brought up....how many Little Leagues are there in the City of Lexington? That will determine that area they pull from. The only Little League that I can think of off the top of my head in Gardenside.

There are two little leagues in Lexington, Gardenside and Eastern. As you said, there are three Cal Ripken leagues, Northern, Southeastern and South Lexington and there are VERY defined boundaries. The kids on that team all lived in a fairly concentrated area, I think they all could have walked or ridden a bike to Shillito Park easily. There are also three Babe Ruth leagues in Lexington, and 6 players from one of those leagues were playing for the East in the East/West All-Star game on Sunday.

Not knowing anything about the teams, I would say the Lexington Cal Ripken team should have the edge because of the likelihood that it drew players from a larger population base than the Valley Sports program.

 

It's my understanding that Little League rules are fairly strict about the territory from which a league can draw players.

 

Well, you really don't know Coach Osbourne that well. He used to live in Indiana, so Valley might have been drawing from a larger area, than one expects. Many of Valley boys were just juniors this past year and it sound like the Cal Ripkins boys were Seniors this past year, so there seems to be an age difference. Based on what I have read, I would probably have to say Cal gets the not.

 

JimmyRef, nice job on getting a X name into this thread.

Ethan Henry( Butler?)

 

not 100% sure, but I seem to remember this young man focusing on Football and being a pretty good LB for PRP

not 100% sure, but I seem to remember this young man focusing on Football and being a pretty good LB for PRP

you are correct...just think how much stronger PRP's baseball team would have been if he had played. Maybe they would have won state.

Well, you really don't know Coach Osbourne that well. He used to live in Indiana, so Valley might have been drawing from a larger area, than one expects. Many of Valley boys were just juniors this past year and it sound like the Cal Ripkins boys were Seniors this past year, so there seems to be an age difference. Based on what I have read, I would probably have to say Cal gets the not.

 

JimmyRef, nice job on getting a X name into this thread.

I think that I can remember Valley Sports having to forfet the 11/12 State Championship title in or about about '99 or '00, because they and used some players that allegedly lived in Indiana. Would any of the players on the series championship team have fallen into that category? The best I remember Valley Sports had to forfeit the title to none other than the Southeast Lexington Little League team. How's that for coinsidence?

 

As for an age difference in the squads as you proposed as being a factor, they were all still 12 years olds primarily regardless of whatever grade they were in school.

 

I'm sure that STRIKE3 can correct me on any of this if I am in error.

I think that I can remember Valley Sports having to forfet the 11/12 State Championship title in or about about '99 or '00, because they and used some players that allegedly lived in Indiana. Would any of the players on the series championship team have fallen into that category? The best I remember Valley Sports had to forfeit the title to none other than the Southeast Lexington Little League team. How's that for coinsidence?

 

As for an age difference in the squads as you proposed as being a factor, they were all still 12 years olds primarily regardless of whatever grade they were in school.

 

I'm sure that STRIKE3 can correct me on any of this if I am in error.

Cal Ripken and Little League may have two different age cuts off (little league at the time was July 31). As for the '99 or '00, Mr. Osbourne had an older boy who would have fell in the same time frame. I suppose he learned from his mistakes, even though he wasn't the coach in '99 or '00.

Well, you really don't know Coach Osbourne that well. He used to live in Indiana, so Valley might have been drawing from a larger area, than one expects. Many of Valley boys were just juniors this past year and it sound like the Cal Ripkins boys were Seniors this past year, so there seems to be an age difference. Based on what I have read, I would probably have to say Cal gets the not.

 

JimmyRef, nice job on getting a X name into this thread.

I could said Eisenmenger from Ballard also pitched but he no longer plays for them.