Wildcat 8-and-under baseball team has big summer

By Andy Brown
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Updated: July 17, 2017

Photo courtesy of Andy Ross

Keegan Cooley slides safely into second base for the Louisburg Wildcat 8-and-under baseball team. The 12-member Wildcat team racked up 16 wins in the Olathe Baseball League this summer.

Playing together for the first time, head coach Joel LaJoie wasn’t sure what to expect from his group of 8-and-under baseball players.

The team made up of 12 players, all from Louisburg, decided to go out on their own and join a kid pitch league that was a part of Olathe Youth Baseball. The Wildcat team more than held their own as they finished with a 16-2 league record as they learned to pitch for the first time.

Members of the Wildcat team are Max Amren, Grant Bloustine, Logan Buset, Lance Callahan, Casey Carpenter-Ross, Keegan Cooley, Cody Courtney, Jack LaJoie, Beau Lanz, Cole Lanz, Spencer Mattison and Cavan O’Brien.

Head coach Joel LaJoie speaks to his team following a contest earlier this summer. The Wildcats finished with a 16-2 record in the Olathe Baseball League.

“That was our biggest struggle, but also our biggest success,” coach LaJoie said of the team’s first year of pitching. “All of these young men are natural ball players and I’m truly excited about developing this team so I can drop them at the front door of the high school their freshman year ready to play at a very high level. My dream for this team is to see them help Louisburg High School field a state championship team.”

After having a lot of success in their league, the Wildcats also ventured out to play in USSSA tournaments, where they finished with a 2-4 mark.

Beau Lanz winds up for pitch for the Louisburg Wildcat 8-and-under baseball team this summer.

If your summer team had a lot of success, and you would like them featured on Louisburg Sports Zone, please email me at louisburgsportszone@gmail.com for more information.