WP Little League All Stars make history - 2019 Top 10 – No. 6

CHENEY — History was made in August when the West Plains 11 – 12 Little League All Stars went to the state championships and won — twice — in a David and Goliath-type victory.

In the surface the feat may not seem spectacular, after all, the team had made the playoffs many times in the series. In the league’s 15-year history they only won only one tournament game.

But this year they won their first two games and advanced to the second round of play.

What made the victories so important is the densely populated West Side Goliath-sized leagues who cherry-pick from a pool of thousands in leagues five times the size of the West Plains.

“They’re bigger and a much more established Little League,” Josh said. “Probably 30 years in the making.”

The David side of the story is the West Plains Little League, with about 400 kids to pick from ranging in age from 4 – 12.

“It was a complete team effort,” Josh Ashcroft, team manager said of the teams first two wins that allowed West Plains to advance at the playoffs before taking on Goliath, losing game three 13-3, and game four 9-5 to be eliminated.

The team is already looking forward to the 2020 season, so mark your calendars: next year Cheney will be hosting the 11 – 12 All Star Little League Championships. Who knows, it could the year West Plains takes it all, and on their home diamond.

Lee Hughes can be reached at lee@cheneyfreepress.com.