Win today, and Burlington Little League advances to first-ever World Series

It’s easy to think the pressure is building on the Burlington Little League 12U All-Stars.

The boys of summer are way too easily cruising through the Great Lakes Regional tournament down in Indianapolis, with 10-0 pastings of both Illinois and Kentucky. After ace Markus Thomsen’s perfect game Monday, Ethan Safar followed with a three-hit shutout Thursday.

And in what can only be described as more evidence this is Burlington’s year, Ohio, the team Burlington seemed destined to face in today’s regional championship (4 p.m., ESPN), blew a 3-0 lead Friday as Kentucky came all the way back with a three-run sixth to win, 4-3, and try for revenge on Burlington.

So Burlington gets to face a team it just pounded, 10-0, for a chance to become the first Burlington team to ever advance to the Little League World Series. One other Burlington Little League squad has advanced to the regional final.

The numbers don’t lie, folks.

In Indy, Burlington pitchers have allowed three hits in two games, and the defense has played error-free. At the plate, the bats have delivered 20 runs off 23 hits.

“We are firing on all cylinders,” said Burlington coach Scott Safar. “The boys have a good work ethic on off-days and play hard during practices. We will have the same approach before Saturday’s game.”

“If we play our game, we have a good chance to become the first team in Wisconsin history to make it to Williamsport.”

With Thomsen on the hill today, it’s not impossible to say Burlington could be poised for another lopsided victory. But Safar is doing his best to keep the kids grounded, even though Thomsen’s rare performance was all over ESPN’s Sportscenter and social media Tuesday morning.

“The team feels good,” he said. “It is a bit of a grind, day in and day out, working at baseball and trying to maintain a schedule. This postseason run started over a month ago. Our goal as coaches is that the mechanics become so automatic that the team is capable playing well even on a ‘bad day’.”

“We never feel going into it that we will blow out a team. In baseball, funny things can happen and on any given day anyone can win, that is why you play it out. We don’t take anything for granted.”

It’s hard to deny Burlington’s dominance. Safar said Thomsen throws hard and does a good job of mixing it up. His command was pinpoint Monday, as he struck out nine with no walks in 61 pitches. Thomsen’s overhand curve ball baffled Illinois hitters, as several froze at the sight of the devastating pitch.

If Thursday was any indication, Kentucky will have a tough time hitting Thomsen today. Ethan Safar held Kentucky to three hits, and Burlington dominated from the jump.

Burlington, a.k.a. Wisconsin, batted first and jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first. Thomsen led off with a double to the wall followed by a Chase Ketterhagen single, putting men on second and third. Zach Wallace drove them home with a two-run single to left-center.

The inning continued as Joe Zuleger drew a walk, Mason McIntyre smashed an RBI double, and Dylan Minnich added an RBI single. For good measure, McIntyre scored on a Kentucky error. The rout was on.

Burlington continued the onslaught with four straight hits from Thomsen, Ketterhagen, Cody Carlson,  and Ethan Safar to open the second. Wallace added a sacrifice bunt, and Burlington was up 8-0 after two.

Wallace’s two-run doubles in the fourth sealed the deal at 10-0.

Ethan Safar struck out four and walked none against 15 batters. His strike percentage was an impressive .717, and he needed only 46 pitches.

With two flawless performances under its belt, Burlington could be due for some adversity in today’s championship, right? Kentucky showed a ton of fight in overcoming a 3-0 deficit for a 4-3 victory Friday.

Despite that brief sign of life, it’s clear the tournament is Burlington’s to lose. Burlington’s combination of pitching, hitting and defense rivals any team in Burlington Little League history.

So what can we expect from today’s historic battle?

“Defense wins games,” Coach Safar said. “If a team makes fewer mistakes, the likelihood of winning goes up quite a bit. We need to keep our errors to a minimum and be making plays out there. Kentucky gets some pitching back, and so it should be a good game.”

“After our semi-final win, we huddled up and chanted ‘one more game’, that is our goal. We will take things one play at a time. We have as good a chance as anyone.”

With five trips to Indianapolis in seven years, the Burlington Little League has been knocking on the door of the Little League World Series for some time now.

This year, the boys of summer are busting that door down and making history in the process. Win or lose today, the city’s Little League program has become a regional and national powerhouse, and these kids are making memories to last a lifetime.

There will be a viewing party of today’s Burlington-Kentucky game at 4 p.m. at Fred’s Burgers, 596 N. Pine St., Burlington. 

Also, stay tuned to www.myracinecounty.com and follow Sports Editor Mike Ramczyk on Twitter @mikeramczyk17 for game updates. Finally, LIKE the Standard Press Sports page on Facebook for more coverage.