Little League all-stars

Gig Harbor, Key Peninsula Little Leaguers take their shot at district title

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

The ting of a bat, the pop of a glove and the commotion of players and coaches are the noises that signify preparation for the Little League District 2 baseball tournament.

School is over for children on the Gig Harbor and Key Peninsulas. And another thing that will soon come to a conclusion is the baseball career of 12-year-olds in the Little League Majors Division.

But not before they get one last chance to qualify for a state or regional tournament. Or even the ultimate opportunity: The Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn.

The Gig Harbor American and Gig Harbor National all-stars will join the Key Peninsula all-stars next month in Port Orchard for the district tournament.

But for now, they’ll practice nearly every day for about two hours — sometimes twice a day — in order to maximize their repetitions.

Key Peninsula

Key Peninsula Manager John Kvinsland doesn’t have to go far to practice with his kids. He simply goes to his backyard, where he built a Little League-sized baseball field, complete with a fence.

All he’d need to do would be to install some lights and let the corn grow a little more, and he may begin to see famous baseball players walk out onto the outfield, as in “Field of Dreams.”

For now, Key Peninsula is poised to make a deep run in the district tournament. They finished 2-2 last year, and Kvinsland believes this team is bigger and stronger.

“We have the ability to hit it out of the park between our three and seven batters,” Kvinsland said. “The opportunity can present itself at anytime.”

Shortstop and pitcher Hayden Skidmore, 12, wants to go further this year — badly.

“This year’s team, we have stronger hitters and more experienced players,” Skidmore said. “Hopefully we can beat the other teams.”

Catcher Robert Kvinsland thinks his team can give perennial favorites South Kitsap Western and Bainbridge Island a run for their money.

“I think we’re going to go pretty far this year,” said Kvinsland, who is heading into his fourth year of district competition.

Mason Laird, one of the team’s best hitters, said playing in the district tournament is a big deal.

It’s also a time to have fun.

“You get to be with your friends and have a good time,” Laird said. “It’s pretty cool.”

Gig Harbor National

Ben Weymiller’s size doesn’t fit the charge he can put into a ball.

Last week during Gig Harbor National batting practice, Weymiller nearly put a ball into a neighbor’s yard in left field at Gig Harbor’s Kenneth Leo Marvin Veterans Memorial Park.

He hopes to continue his long-ball efforts when Gig Harbor National plays Gig Harbor American in the first round of the district tournament.

“I’m really excited,” Weymiller said. “I’m counting the days, marking them off the calendar. It seems like it’s coming too slow.”

The Nationals went 1-2 last year, and because it’s his last year, Weymiller said it’s important that his team has a better outing.

“It’s a great experience,” he said about competing as an all-star. “I’ll never be on this size field or with these guys again. I think we have the potential to go further and do better.”

In his second year with the team, Grant Sutton said he’s excited to go out and have a good time.

“It’s awesome going out and representing Gig Harbor,” Sutton said.

Gig Harbor American

Gig Harbor American Mark Kreibel summed it up when he talked about playing in the District 2 Majors Tournament.

“Play through the game and never expect to win,” said Kreibel, the team’s utility player.

Kreibel believes the key to winning will be to make the routine plays. Last year, Gig Harbor American twice has the lead late in games but surrendered it both times because of errors.

“I really want to do better because it’s my last year of majors,” Kreibel said. “I want this to be as fun and competitive as possible.”

Alex Berman, who was the starting pitcher for the Gig Harbor Majors Division city champion Red Sox, hopes his team does well.

“I wanted to be on the team really bad,” Berman said. “It’s fun to be with all the good players on the team. It makes you better, actually.”

Shortstop Chad Ditter, 12, knows the Americans can’t just walk on the field and expect to win.

“We have to try and win,” Ditter said. “Winning the first few games is really important. We didn’t do that last year, and we had to battle the hard way.”

Gig Harbor American Manager Dave Kilcup said he doesn’t have any superstars on the team. Instead, he said he has a very solid group of kids.

“We have a little more seasoned guys,” Kilcup said. “We’ve got great versatility. I’ve got more pitchers and catchers than I think I’ve ever had on an all-star team.”

In Little League baseball, the team that commits fewer errors usually wins. Kilcup preaches that they don’t have to make the great play; they just have to make the consistent play, particularly in the infield.

As for the tournament-opener against Gig Harbor National, both coaches were bummed about the unlucky draw.

“One of us will come away a winner, and the other will come away with playing baseball every day,” Kilcup said.

District 2 Little League tournament

Gig Harbor American will play Gig Harbor National at 2:30 p.m. July 5 in the first round of the Majors tournament at Art Mikelson Field in Port Orchard. Key Peninsula will face North Kitsap American at 5 p.m. July 5. For other game times, visit www.gigharborlittleleague.com or www.eteamz.com/keypeninsulalittleleague.

Key Peninsula lineup

Player name Number Position

Seth Courtney 12 OF

Damien LeGrange 7 OF

Zach Lacheney 11 P, 3B, OF

Mason Laird 9 P, C

Damien Hampten 6 P, IF, OF

Austin Keough 4 P

Tyler Durnin 14 3B, P

Robert Kvinsland 2 C, P, 2B

Hayden Skidmore 5 P, C, SS

Julian Archuleta 13 P, C, CF

Riley Vanoverbeke 3 1B, OF

Gig Harbor National lineup

Player name Number Position

Alex Dworsky 7 2B

Will Foley 27 C

Matt Henckel 26 P

Casey Gearhart 24 SS

Mike Knudson 21 LF

Matt Ogard 6 3B

Alex Pullin 4 RF

Grant Sutton 11 1B

Sam Campidilli 12 1B

Jeremy Schnurman 18 2B

Ben Weymiller 9 CF

Neal Hassan 21 RF

Gig Harbor American lineup

Player name Number Position

Alex Berman 33 3B, P

Alex Morford 24 P, OF

Austin Kilcup 12 3B, P

Blake Fulton 25 OF, 2B

Chad Ditter 15 OF, 1B

Christian Lewis 7 2B,

Henry Cheney 23 C, P

Jairus Richards 17 OF, 3B

Jaxson Schneider 20 OF, SS

Marque Kriebel 2 SS, C

Patrick Spieker 19 OF

Ryan Campbell 10 OF, 2B

Tyler Bickert 5 1B, C