Dedication, determination get Post Falls back to California
<p>JEROME A. POLLOS/Press Shilo Morgan spots an infield pop-fly during fielding drills during Post Falls Little League team practice Wednesday. The team won its age division to advance to the Little League Northwest Regional tournament in California.</p>
<p>JEROME A. POLLOS/Press Sam Schulze gets under a hit during a practice in the outfield Wednesday in Post Falls.</p>
POST FALLS - After traveling to San Bernardino, Calif., to watch his older brother compete in the Northwest Little League regional tournament, Jake Pfennigs told his dad, Dusty, that once he was old enough to compete - he wanted to share that experience.
Starting on Friday - the entire Post Falls 11-12 year-old Majors team will get that chance after advancing for the second time in four years.
Post Falls beat Northwest Ada in two games in Meridian to win the state championship.
"It's all due to the dedication and hard work they all put in," said Dusty Pfennigs, who coached that team in 2009. "We've been practicing day and night since the team was announced. They all get along and aren't selfish whatsoever. They all know what their job is and if someone is failing, someone else picks them up."
Post Falls went 1-3 in the 2009 regional tournament, beating a team from Laramie (Wyo.) 10-0.
“I learned a lot about the hard work it takes to get there,” Pfennigs said. “It shows the dedication these kids put in to get there, and setting goals from there.”
After losing a game in the district tournament and facing elimination, the Post Falls group hasn’t lost since.
“From Day 1, we’ve set goals,” Pfennigs said. “If we wanted to just win one game, or be state champions — but once we get to California, anything can happen.”
Post Falls opens pool play at this year’s tournament on Friday against Billings, Mont., and will face Juneau, Alaska, on Saturday, Mercer Island (Wash.) on Monday and conclude pool play on Wednesday against Cody, Wyo.
Semifinal games are on Thursday, with the championship game on Saturday at 1 p.m. The semifinals will be broadcast on ESPN2, with the finals on ESPN.
“We’re just trying to keep them focused on one game at a time,” Pfennigs said. “Because once you get down there, it’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Once you get down there, there’s a lot of vendors. Plus, you’re staying with 11 different teams on one campus. You get to become friends with those kids and can’t forget why you’re there. When we lost that first game in the district tournament, these kids were determined not to let it happen again. After finishing that weekend, you could see it in their eyes they wanted it.”
The team wanted it so bad, they even had an early practice on July 4th, when the coaches had planned on giving them a day off.
“They said nope, we’re practicing,” Pfennigs said. “Us coaches were a little bit tired and needed a break, but they wanted an early practice so we practiced.”
Nate Buer is the team’s catcher.
“It’s been a fun summer,” Buer said. “I’m really excited to get to go to Bernardino.”
Following their state championship win, the team began jumping on each other.
“It was awesome and a great feeling,” said Jake Pfennigs, who pitches and plays in the infield. “I’m nervous a little bit. Mostly because they’re bigger states with more players to choose from. We’re playing against better hitters and tougher competition.”
The group has prepared for the tournament by playing travel ball and competing in tournaments in Montana and Washington.
“They’re used to staying in a hotel and playing the next day,” Dusty Pfennigs said. “It’s a little different from playing Little League because those teams are trying to get their best players. We’re just the best of the best from Post Falls. Every time you advance, the competition just gets better and better.”
“We’re not there yet,” Jake Pfennigs said. “But we will be.”