From top to bottom of the age groups, Lansing's summer baseball teams are creating a championship legacy.
The Little League (9-10) team captured the District 6 crown and Illinois Sectional 3 title with a win over Hegewisch. Next on their agenda is a trip to Rock Falls to compete in the state finals, starting Saturday.
Ken Reynolds, the former varsity baseball coach at T.F. South, is the manager of the 10s.
The Little League (11-12) team captured the District 6 flag with an 11-2 win over Steger and placed third in the Section 3 tournament.
According to 12s manager Rick Seymour, dedication and commitment are the reasons for Lansing's success.
"We have a good group of kids, at all age levels, who want to put in the work it takes to learn the game," Seymour said. "We also have a strong group of coaches who have been here for several years, and take a lot of pride in teaching the game the right way."
The Lansing 13-year-old Babe Ruth team captured the Illinois state championship for the first time in more than 40 years with a win over Galesburg. They play in Dodgeville, Wis., in the Ohio Valley Regional tournament starting this weekend.
The manager of the 13-year-old squad is Bob Padjen, who happens to be the defensive coordinator for the T.F. South varsity football program.
"Big difference working with kids this age," Padjen said. "You have to keep them engaged to keep their focus.
"But they are a great group. They all got together Wednesday and went to play home run derby at a local park. They do a lot of stuff like that together, and that camaraderie helps them work together on the field."
In the meantime, the 15-year-old Babe Ruth team matched the feat of their younger counterparts. The 15-year-old group also won the state championship, outscoring their opponents 20-2 on their way to the crown. They will head to Somerset, Ky., this weekend to continue tournament play.
A classic example of commitment and dedication is manager Tim Reid Sr., who has been coaching his son for nine years. Tim Jr. is 15 now, and a member of the team traveling to Kentucky.
The Southeast Suburban team of 16- to 18-year-olds hosted the Senior Babe Ruth Ohio Valley Regional, which concluded earlier this week.
