BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Post Oak Little League Champs

By Benjamin Cohen, Contributing writer | July 18, 2018

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Post Oak Little League 12U All Stars won the Texas East State Championship. Pictured (from left) Coach Reagan Buckley, coach David Wylie, Andrew Stover, Justin Michaelis, Andy Guy, Ryan Selvaggi, Carter Pitts, Richie Klosek, team manager David Rook, Ethan Goldstein, Kaleb Rook, Matthew Hedrick, coach John Klosek, Charlie Wylie, George Kugle, Parish Facciponte and Cade West.

The Post Oak Little League 12U All Stars are headed to the Southwest Regional Tournament after winning the Texas East State Championship. In a nail-biting game against Port Neches Groves Little League in Tyler, Texas, the POLL 12U All Stars pulled off a 2-0 victory.

This championship win is especially exciting considering it is the first time in history that the Post Oak Little League 12U All Stars have made it this far. In 2008 and 2013, the Post Oak Little League 11U team won the state championship.

Last week, the POLL 12U All Stars defeated the Pearland East All Stars in an 8-3 victory at the Bayside Little League complex.

Team manager David Rook noted that this team has been preparing for this for some time. “On one hand, the boys have been preparing for this summer and the opportunity to win the Little League World Series for three years. While winning sectionals is a huge deal, our goal is to win the LLWS. On the other hand, this team is 71-4-1 in the last 3 years, and 2 of those losses were at the hands of Pearland last summer in sectionals. That stung, but it motivated all of us,” he said.

First baseman Richie Klosek hits the game-winning two-run home run as the crowd cheers in excitement. (Video courtesy of Tama Klosek)

Tama Klosek, whose son Richie is on the team, said, “Amazing series. We did not lose a game!” Richie hit a two-run home run, allowing Richie and Ryan Selvaggi to score, ultimately winning the game for the POLL 12U All Stars. Klosek said Kaleb Rook and Carter Pitts did an “outstanding” job at pitching and kept Port Neches from scoring.

The Post Oak Little League is now headed to Waco, Texas for the Southwest Regional Tournament, which begins on Aug. 1. If the POLL 12U All Stars win there, they will then head to Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the Little League World Series, which begins Aug. 16.

Check your local listings on ESPN and LHN for information on televised games from the Southwest Regional Tournament. Check here for updates on the Little League World Series.

We’re rooting for the Post Oak Little League 12U All Stars as they continue on their journey to the Little League World Series. Good luck!