JEFFERSONVILLE — Jeff/GRC’s Junior All-Stars are one step away from their dream — a trip to the Little League World Series.

The 13-14-year-old Indiana state champions will compete in the Central Region Tournament in Fort Wayne beginning Saturday against the host team. The semifinals and championship are scheduled for next Thursday.

While the goal of advancing to Taylor, Mich., for the World Series is in sight, the players and coaches say they’re focused on the region field.

“Every since we’ve heard about the World Series, we’ve been dreaming about it ever since we were 10 years old,” Jeff’s Miah Phelps said. “Of course, we’re thinking about the World Series. But now that I think we’ve matured, I think we’re focused just on the regional. We’re ready to play.”

“I’m trying to keep everyone focused on what’s in front of us,” teammate Ian Ellis said.

“We take it one game at a time, but all of us are dreaming about the World Series,” Jeff/GRC’s Dewey Cardwell said. “We’ve been dreaming about it ever since we’ve been All-Stars.”

“I think we have to worry about [the region],” Jeff/GRC manager Jerry Cardwell said. “It’s nice to think, ‘Hey, it’s out there,’ but we’ve got to get through the next six or seven games to give us a chance.”

Jeffersonville sent a team to the Junior World Series two years ago. The same group went to the 11-12-year-old World Series in Williamsport, Pa., two years earlier.

Being a baseball team from Jeffersonville could have its advantages, but it also may be one very specific disadvantage.

“I think it gives us confidence. But I also think a lot of those teams coming will recognize that Jeffersonville name and may gun for us just for that,” Coach Cardwell said.

“That gives us a bunch of confidence that we can win,” said Ellis, whose older brother, Drew, was the star of two Jeff World Series teams.

“It gives us a lot of confidence, knowing that a Jeff team can do it,” Phelps said. “There’s really no difference between that team and ours. I believe that we can do it also.”

Coach Cardwell hasn’t had a chance to scout any of the teams in the field, meaning the team will go into the tournament blind. That doesn’t mean the squad doesn’t have high expectations.

“We know that [the competition] is going to be good,” Dewey Cardwell said. “You have to be good to win a state championship. But we know that we’re good and hopefully we can beat them.”

“We just have to go out and play hard and win every game by the 10-run rule,” Ellis said with a smile. “I think it’s going to be tough, but I think we can pull it off.”

“I believe that we’re good competition and we’re going to go up there knowing that we can beat any team,” Phelps said. “We know it’s going to be good competition, but we’re going to be ready to play.”

“I don’t think anybody gets there on a fluke,” Coach Cardwell said. “I would suspect that we’re going to find some pretty good teams there. We’re going to have to play our best baseball to get to the final rounds and have a chance to win.”



JEFF/GRC SCHEDULE

    Saturday, 3:30 a.m. — vs. Fort Wayne at St. Joe Central Field

    Saturday, 6 p.m. — vs. Iowa at St. Joe Central Field

    Monday, 6 p.m. — vs. Wisconsin at Georgetown Field

    Tuesday, 4 p.m. — vs. Illinois at St. Joe Central Field

    Wednesday, 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. — Quarterfinals at St. Joe Central Field

    Thursday, 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. — Semifinals at TBA

    Thursday, 5 p.m. — Central Region Championship Game at TBA



STANDINGS

Pool A

Iowa    0-0

Michigan    0-0

Missouri    0-0

N/S Dakota    0-0

Ohio    0-0

Wisconsin    0-0



Pool B

Jeff/GRC    0-0

Fort Wayne    0-0

Illinois    0-0

Kentucky    0-0

Minnesota    0-0