Eagle Lake 12U advances to World Series for time in program history

One local youth baseball team has made Polk County history.

The Eagle Lake 12U All-Star Team of the Babe Ruth League on Aug. 5 is taking their talents to the Cal Ripken Baseball Major/70 (12U) World Series in Branson, Missouri — a town three hours away from Kansas City and four hours away from St. Louis — according to head baseball coach Jake Wren. Eagle Lake's team was able to punch their ticket thanks to ten players and three coaches winning the first regional championship in program history, though the team has been on the rise the past five years or so.

Eagle Lake turns the page to Branson because of a dominating 16-3 win over Hendersonville, Tennessee in pool play and a convincing 16-8 victory over Sebring in pool play, a 13-7 win over Peachtree, which qualified the team for the regional semifinals but then lost 14-3 to Jacksonville. Then, the local 12U squad would go on to win 5-2 over Lutz in the semifinals and 5-4 over Jacksonville in the regional championship, clinching the regional title on July 18.

And this path to even get to the Cal Ripken Baseball Major/70 (12U) World Series has been interesting and a bit of a revenge tour. After Eagle Lake won the district championship, advancing to state and making it all the way to the finals, the local team lost in walk-off fashion 5-4 to Lutz in the state final before avenging that loss in the regional semifinal.

Players a part of the team are Cooper Lehning, Seth Cutrer, Josh Barfield, Jr., Paisley Wren, Aydin Britton, Landin Britton, Camerson Taylor, Chase Smith, Jayden Brooks, Jacob Hanson along with coaches Luke Lehning, Josh Barfield and Eagle Lake head coach Wren. These players will compete in four seeding games in hopes of getting that high seed and playing against some of the best teams from around the world in elimination games.

"We are very honored. It's really unique. I don't know that we expected it. When we started the all-star baseball season, we had our eyes on trying to win the state tournament which we did not. We became runner-up. But luckily we were able to advance anyway to regionals and they invited the runner-up. So, it was pretty cool going to regions.," Wren said.

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Still, it will take work for the program to raise funds to journey to the Midwest, as the team's coaches and families have organized several events to potentially make it happen because of the estimated cost being north of $30,000, which include airfare, transportation during the tournament, lodging, food, uniforms, among other items. In two weeks time, the team has already raised around $12,000 all thing considered.

For starters, there is a GoFundMe posted on the Eagle Lake Community Baseball's Facebook page.

Then there will be several events scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 1 at Eagle Lake Community Ballpark. Firstly, there is a community yard sale at 8 a.m. to noon. Then there will be a cookout at 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. followed up with a team celebration that will extend until 6:30 p.m. During all of this will also be a 50/50 raffle, a back-to-school basket raffle, hot dogs, baked goods and snacks.

"Can't make it but still want to help? Every donation, big or small, helps send these hardworking kids to Branson, Missouri to represent Eagle Lake on the world stage," a post written on the team's Facebook page mentioned.

Donations should be made out to Eagle Lake Sports Association, P.O. Box 1126, Eagle Lake, Florida 33839. For information on the QR code or any questions, call 863-360-3718.

The Babe Ruth League is one of the larger youth baseball organizations in the country that comprises two primary baseball divisions in Cal Ripken Baseball (ages 4-12) and Babe Ruth Baseball (ages 13-18).

"We're just really grateful and excited to represent Polk County and Eagle Lake, which is a tiny little park. I'm just very proud. ... This is once in a generation. We're going to do whatever it takes for the kids.," Wren said.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Eagle Lake youth baseball clinches regionals, needs donations for WS

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