By Zach Fanko, WKTV Contributing Writer
The best that Michigan Little League baseball has to offer is coming this weekend to Grand Rapids as 16 district champs, including defending Little League World Series champion Taylor North, vie for a spot in the Great Lakes Regional.
Hosted by Southern Little League, the 12-and-under Little League Majors State Tournament runs from Friday, July 22 through Wednesday, July 27, at the MacKay-Jaycees Park, 2531 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids.
Look for our WKTV Sports Truck and crew covering the game at 7 p.m. Friday, July 22.
Round robin play runs from July 22-24, followed by the single elimination championship round from July 25-27. Admission is free.
Teams by pool (16 district champs)
Pool A: Grosse Points Farm City, Dexter, Midland Northeast, Grand Rapids Southern East
Pool B: White Lake, Paw Paw, Traverse City, Bay City Southwest
Pool C: Millwood, St. Clair, Tecumseh, Taylor North
Pool D: Petoskey, Negaunee, Gladstone, Commerce Township
Each team will play three games, facing each opponent within their pool once with the top two teams from each pool advancing to the single elimination championship round. The state champion advances to the Great Lakes Regional from Aug. 6-10 in Whitestown, Indiana.
Defending World Series champs back
Little League World Series champs Taylor North, the first team from Michigan to win it all since 1959, is back to defend its title. They went undefeated in the 2021 state tournament (6-0), allowing just seven runs over six games.
Bay City Southwest returns to the state tournament and is hoping to avenge its semifinal loss to Taylor North a year ago. Another contender, St. Clair, returns after a quarterfinal appearance last year.
Grand Rapids Southern East is hoping home field advantage will play a factor as the District 9 champions look to make some noise this weekend.
Click here to see the tournament schedule: 2022 MAJOR STATE BB.xlsx
