Patriot Park, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — Kearney is a host site for the 2024 Nebraska Little League state tournament finals and the Kearney Little League president spoke about post-season play.
Todd Herges, President of the Kearney Little League said that the number of participants were up this season, climbing back up from the lower numbers after the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said they had 510 participants overall.
Herges said children age six to 15 can compete in the little league with eight different age divisions, some being single age categories.
Two divisions go to the state tournament, the 10-year-olds and the 11- and 12-year-olds.
He said Kearney had a great All-Star game on June 19, 36 kids took part in the minors, 39 in the majors.
“It’s always a fun night in Kearney, a colorful night,” Herges said, “Its so special for the players and their families.”
Herges spoke about Kearney Little League post season play and noted the West Area Tournament which was hosted in Hastings.
He said their major and minor teams played both the Hastings and Grand Island teams. Herges said they won all four games, adding it was great to see all the Tri-Cities represented well by their teams.
Kearney is one of the host sites of the 2024 Nebraska Little League State Tournament finals, Herges said, adding that this was the fourth time since 2000 Kearney had hosted.
The tournament site will be Patriot Park, which opened in Kearney in 2017 and features four baseball fields, among others.
The first weekend will be Friday, July 12 through Sunday, July 14, Herges said there would be four games per day. The finals weekend will be Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21, the championship will be the final day.
Games start at 3 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. on Saturdays and 12 p.m. on Sundays. Attendance to the games is free Herges said.
The majors state champion only winner advances to the Central Region Tournament in Indianapolis, Ind., on Aug. 2-9. Minor state champions do not advance further.
Check out www.nebraskalittleleague.com for more information regarding the tournament.
Kearney is one of two little leagues in the state to have sent a team to the Little League World Series, Williamsport, Penn.
Kearney Little League
“The objective of Kearney Little League is to provide a baseball program that will implant firmly in children of the community the ideals of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty, courage, and respect for authority, so that they may be well-adjusted, stronger, and happier children and will grow to be good, decent, healthy, and trustworthy citizens,” per the Nebraska Little League website.
Todd Herges, (Alex Salmon, Central Nebraska Today)
