Photos submitted by Carol Nugteren
Paw Paw Little League 12U District 15 Champs Take Second Place in State of Michigan Title Game
The 16 Little League Baseball District Champions, in Michigan, traveled to Petoskey for the Little League Major Baseball State Tournament on Thursday July 20, 2023 for opening ceremonies. Three rounds of pool play were held July 21-23, then a single elimination round for each of the pool’s top two teams July 24-26.
Paw Paw’s District 15 12U Little League All-Star Champs made it all the way to its first Michigan Major Baseball Championship Game in program history on Wednesday July 26, 2023.
In the final game where Paw Paw faced Midland Northeast (Michigan District 1 Champs), Paw Paw took an early lead scoring twice in the first inning. Midland answered back with three runs of their own. Midland scored one more in the bottom of the third. Paw Paw got another run in the top of the fourth, cutting Midland’s lead to 4-3. Paw Paw tied the game 4-4 in the top of the sixth inning. Midland scored the game winning run in the bottom of the sixth to win the State Championship 5-4. Midland will advance to the Great Lakes Regional, one step away from the Little League World Series held in Williamsport, PA.
Paw Paw Team Members include #00 Ryhder Wydick, #1 Blake Surdy, #3 Easton Johnson, #4 Gavin Allers, #5 Hunter Wren, #7 Carter Shannon, #8 Chase Pushard, #10 Kalin Ayres, #11 Daniel Dobbins, #16 Max Macias, #21 Jamin Byford, and #27 Luke Wiatrolik. The team is coached by Gabe Macias, David Ayres and Brendan Byford.