News — Little League Baseball

Brisbane North Region Little League (Queensland, Australia) was crowned as the 2022 Little League Baseball^® Australia Region Champion, earning direct entry into the 2022 Little League Baseball World Series (LLBWS) with a hard-fought win over Hills Little League. The 9-3 victory came after a dominant run through the Region Tournament, where Brisbane North Region LL poured in 59 runs over seven games.

After falling to Hills Little League (Sydney, Australia), 4-0, earlier in tournament pool play, Brisbane North Region LL won the rematch thanks to a strong start and stellar pitching. Hills opened up the scoring in the first inning after notching one run, but it would be their only lead of the game as Brisbane North Region answered swiftly, scoring four runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Hills fought back in the top of the fifth scoring two runs, but Brisbane North Region put the game out of reach after knocking in three runs thanks to two consecutive RBI singles.

This will be the first time Brisbane North Region LL makes the trek to Williamsport, second time a team from Queensland earns the honor, and the eighth time a team from Australia will compete in the LLBWS after the country gained direct entry in 2013.

Australia’s most successful trip at the LLBWS took place in 2016, where Hills LL notched two wins by taking down squads from the Europe and Africa Region and Caribbean Region before being knocked out of the elimination bracket by the Mexico Region team.

A rapidly growing Little League country, Australia is one of the few nations with an automatic bid into all four Little League Baseball tournaments, with their most recent direct entry into the Little League Intermediate (50/70) Baseball Division World Series starting in 2018.

With the first-round matchups of the 2022 LLBWS announced at the Chairman’s Celebration of the 28^th Little League International Congress, Brisbane North Region LL is set to square off against the winner of the Canada Region in Game 3 on Wednesday, August 17, at 5 p.m. on Volunteer Stadium.

Little League International will be celebrating the 75^th Anniversary of the LLBWS this year and will celebrate the history of the iconic event throughout the summer leading up to this year’s World Series in August. More information about the 2022 Little League World Series tournaments, including full schedules and downloadable brackets, can be found at LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries.

Due to the ongoing impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic, that included the cancellation of the 2020 Little League^® World Series and Regional Tournaments, the Little League International Board of Directors will postpone the expansion of the Little League Baseball^® and Little League Softball^® World Series until 2022. The decision allows the organization, and its local programs, to fully focus on providing the best 2021 season possible for all players, families, volunteers, and fans.

“After a thorough review of our organization’s strategic initiatives as well as the ongoing uncertainty of how the Coronavirus pandemic will continue to impact the Little League program, the Little League International Board of Directors felt this was the best decision for the success of our organization and for the overall experience of each of our 6,500 local leagues,” said Hugh. E. Tanner, Little League International Board of Directors Chairman. “We look forward to the continued efforts to make the experience at all our regional and World Series tournaments exciting and memorable. The expansion of our Little League Baseball and Little League Softball World Series is one of the centerpieces of our strategic plan, and, while we’re sad to delay these plans, we are excited to welcome more communities to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and Greenville, North Carolina, in 2022.”

As many local Little League programs work on returning to play following the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, the decision allows for both Little League International and its 6,500 local leagues to take the time to strategically evaluate their needs for a successful 2021 season. Little League International will continue to focus on providing the resources and guidance for families and volunteers, to help navigate local Little League seasons throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, as well as plan for the Little League International Tournament, where so many Little Leaguers dream of playing in a regional or World Series tournament.

“Over the next year and a half, we are dedicated to providing the best guidance available, as we strategically evaluate and plan for all possible scenarios in 2021 and look forward to continuing our efforts to prepare for expansion and provide the once-in-a-lifetime experience to more children in 2022,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “With the celebration of the 75^th Little League Baseball World Series now pushed back until 2022 due to the Coronavirus pandemic, it is only fitting that the decision to expand remains in coordination with that event, as we get ready to celebrate the next chapter of this iconic event.”

Originally announced in August 2019, the decision was made to expand the number of teams at the Little League Baseball World Series from 16 to 20 and Little League Softball World Series from 10 to 12 with the goal of providing more children with the opportunity to experience the benefits of the World Series, both on and off the field, as well as the overall journey through the Little League International Tournament.

Based on the postponement of the expansion, Little League International will continue to evaluate the timeline of its facility enhancements that are connected to the expansion in Williamsport. More information regarding the expansion, as it becomes available, will be communicated directly to local league officials and can be found on LittleLeague.org.

A Little League® graduate, father of a Little Leaguer®, and Minor Division softball coach in Virginia’s Spotsylvania Little League (SLL), Jimmy Hensel, Jr., has made a profound impression on his players and their parents by re-imagining the player-coach dynamic.

As a young player, Mr. Hensel, 31, admitted being taught the “old school way.” Coaches were bombastic, practices were not designed for the players’ enjoyment, and surviving the drudgery of daily workouts was all part of the learning process. Such personal experience taught him that nothing positive can come from being made to feel inferior for making a mistake, or enduring persecution by a coach.

During Mr. Hensel’s final Little League season he met Dan Horn. The player and coach made a connection that, over the past 18 years, has evolved beyond student and teacher to mentor and friend.

“Dan has played such a huge role in my life,” said Mr. Hensel. “He showed me you can push and sweat, and still laugh and learn something.”

Building on Mr. Horn’s teachings, Mr. Hensel believes it is vitally important to establish a healthy rapport and trust with his team. He makes a point of asking his players a lot of questions and encourages them to express what they think.

“Sometimes as coaches we tell players things, but we fail to explain ‘the why’ to them,” said Mr. Hensel. “If the goal is for a player to improve by understanding what is going on, coaches need to ask a lot of questions and give the players the chance to offer feedback so they can find out the correct answer for themselves.”

Mr. Hensel and team manager Catrina Scanlan were paired up this season, coaching the SLL’s Alabama Crimson Tide team.

IT’S MY FIRM BELIEF THAT KIDS ARE MUCH SMARTER THAN WE GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR. OFFER A CHILD A LITTLE BIT OF KNOWLEDGE EVERY DAY, CHALLENGE THEM TO GIVE THEIR BEST EFFORT, AND LET THEM GROW FROM IT.

– JIMMY HENSEL, JR., SOFTBALL COACH, SPOTSYLVANIA (VA.) LITTLE LEAGUE

Both Mr. Hensel and Mrs. Scanlan have 10-year-old daughters on the team, but the duo also shares a refreshing coaching philosophy.

“We strive to give the girls a different perspective,” said Mr. Hensel. “We agree that the game is about heart and passion. It’s our belief that an inspired soul is more valuable than any three talented gloves, and to reach the soul of a player, you need to be more devoted than the child.”

Each day at practice, the 11 players on the Tide roster get to see high energy and respect from their coaches. Mr. Hensel is determined to be honest with each player, and in return, asks the team to, “persevere, give its best effort, and apply the lessons learned to real life.”

“Too often players are given many pieces of the puzzle, but they are not able put the puzzle together to see the whole picture,” said Mr. Hensel. “We emphasize and explain the skills, rules, and roles, so that the players know the ‘what, why and how.’ I love seeing when a kid gets it, and does something in a game that they weren’t able to do yesterday… That’s beautiful, and truly rewarding.”

The Tide’s approach has produced plenty of fun, personal improvement, prideful smiles, and wins. Just as significant, the parents have noticed. Recently, a parent of one of the Tide players wrote a letter to the Spotsylvania Little League’s Board of Directors, praising her child’s Little League experience.

I would like to take the opportunity to express my sincerest admiration for this extremely passionate, genuine coach.

Coach Jimmy (Mr. Hensel) was our coach last season and I could not have been more pleased when I found out we were on his team again this season.

I truly appreciate his encouraging words and his profound knowledge of the game. His motivation and drive is infectious. He gets out on the field and works, runs and sweats right alongside each and every one of the girls on his team.

Jimmy devotes his free time to providing additional coaching to any girl that is willing to put in the work. He has taught my daughter so much and I honestly commend the coach that he has been to her.

We have been a part of the Spotsylvania Little League family for years and by far, he is the best coach we have had.

Wendi Newcomer
Mother of Madisen Newcomer
Tide third baseman

Mr. Hensel played Tee Ball through Senior League in East Orange County (Va.) Little League. The Little League ties also extended to his parents. His father, Jim, Sr., served as League President East Orange County Little League; and his mother, Linda was league secretary.

“Integrity is what Little League is all about,” said Mr. Hensel.