CHANDLER, AZ — No Arizona team has played in the Little League World Series in 19 years. A group of 12-year-olds from Chandler is three wins away from changing that.
The Chandler National Little League 12U All-Stars won the Arizona state championship two weeks ago, playing 11 games and outscoring their opponents 125-11.
The team practices at the Snedigar Sportsplex off Basha Road, where 12 boys are chasing a door no Arizona team has walked through since 2007.
Pitcher Mason Mueller, known to his teammates as May-May, says a national ranking site lists his fastball as first in the country for his age. He credits the arm to long days in the backyard with his dad, sometimes not coming back inside until 11 p.m.
Head coach Drew Breivogel says the challenge was getting a roster full of standout players to play for each other. He also knows the history he is chasing. The last
Arizona team to reach Williamsport came from this same league in 2007, and one of those players was future MLB star Cody Bellinger.
"We can be the next team after Cody Bellinger, after Michael Benjamin of '03, to go to Williamsport and add another number, add another year to our banner," Breivogel said. "We know nothing's going to be given to us. Every game is going to be a fight, but we're ready."
The families feel it too. Christina Jones, whose son Gabe is the team's catcher, has measured these years in 6 a.m. drives to the ballfield. She says the run is what baseball moms and dads dream of.
Mueller is not lacking confidence heading into regionals.
"The only people that can beat us are ourselves," he said.
The team leaves for California on Thursday, Aug. 6. Their first game at the West Regional in San Bernardino is Sunday, Aug. 9 at 3 p.m. against Hawaii, streaming on ESPN+.
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The families are raising the travel money themselves, and two Chandler fundraisers this week will go directly toward the trip:
- On Saturday, Aug. 1, Zesty Zzeeks Pizza & Wings will donate 20% of all in-person, online and phone orders to the team's regional travel fund. The fundraiser is at the Ocotillo Chandler location at Arizona Avenue and Ocotillo Road. Orders can be placed in person, online at Zzeeks.com or by phone at 480-591-1111. Customers must mention "Little League" when placing their order. The 12U All-Stars will hold a meet and greet at the restaurant from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- On Tuesday, Aug. 4, Blue 32 Sports Grill at 4845 S. Arizona Ave. in Chandler will host a restaurant night from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., with 15% of all sales donated back to Chandler National when customers mention the league name. The All-Stars and Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke will hold a meet-and-greet from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
