By Larry Atseff | Photos courtesy of Little League World Series

After winning four state titles in the last six years, the 2024 12-under Hinsdale Little League team went beyond this season. They won the Great Lakes Region to get to the first World Series ever for a Hinsdale Little League team.

In Williamsport, they lost to Hawaii 5-0, on Friday, August 16, but got a second opportunity on Sunday morning, August 18. Unfortunately, they ran into some more great pitching and lost 4-0 to Staten Island, representing the New York region.

Despite the losses, the experience was unforgettable.

Chad Wanless, the team’s coach, was quoted as saying to his players, “Go out for introductions, look around, and soak it in. No matter what happens, this is the experience of a lifetime.”

Not only did they play in two games, but afterward, Hinsdale players mingled with others, got autographs, and met members of the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers baseball teams. They came to Williamsport just to greet the teams in this year’s championship.

Reflecting on the season, Wanless added, “Hinsdale is an incredibly proud baseball town. Support from previous teams that came before us was incredible. The outpouring from the community was exceptional. We are so lucky. Two million play Little League baseball around the world annually, and about 10,000 have ever been in the Little League World Series.”

If you were at the Fuller House for Friday’s game on the ESPN network, you saw what he meant. 

Team Members

Kellan Goodwin, center field
Dane Graham, left field
Michael Kipnis, right field
Dillon Phelan, pitcher/outfield/
infield/catcher
Shane Behar, catcher
Colin Boots, infield
Emiliano Nepomuceno, pitcher/ infield
Frederick Sackley, pitcher/infield
Jimmy Macri, infield/outfield
Ethan Chan, infield/outfield
Alex Vivanco, pitcher/infield
Grant Wanless, pitcher/catcher/ infield

Manager Chad Wanless was assisted all season long by Luke Goodwin and Damon Phelan.