Preview: Road to Williamsport begins with District 12-Year-Old All-Stars Tournament

Although there are six All-Stars tournaments that go on during this time of year — one already completed (9-year-olds) and the other already beyond district competition (seniors) — there is only one that captures the attention of the nation. 

The 12-Year-Old All-Stars tournament, known as Majors, is the one in which Little Leaguers can fulfill their dream of playing in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Accordingly, we are taking a closer look at each of the four Little Leagues within our coverage area — all of which will be competing against one another in the District 14 tournament.

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Winter Garden

Manager: Michael Skaling

Coaches: Tambria Naginey, Ken Concepcion

Strength: Pitching

Dugout digest: “They’re all experienced — these are 12-year-olds that have been playing since they were 4 or 5 years old. … We’re carrying 14 kids and of them, I’ve got 13 that probably will pitch — and my 14th could pitch if I needed him to.” — Manager Michael Skaling

Roster: Bottom row, from left: Michael DeGeorge, Tyrell Nourse, Bailey Chumbley, Shane Skaling, Aidan Ray and Brandon Correia. Top row, from left: Logan Cornstubble, Connor Kristofik, Caitlyn Naginey, Walker Adlam and Akash Shah. Not pictured: Ken Concepcion Jr., A.J. Cullen and Gabriel Castro.

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Windermere — American

Manager: Mark Lewis

Coaches: Jerome Naso, Freddy Flynn 

Strength: Pitching

Dugout digest: “The kids are all really good kids. … Our chances, I think, are very high — we have a lot of pitching. … The 13 players we have are very solid kids. (We have) pitching and our hitting is phenomenal.” — Manager Mark Lewis

Roster: Owen Flynn, Justin “J.T.” Lewis, Aidan Hanson, Michael Chylinski, Brandon Weems, Nicholas Naso, Thomas Nikhazy, Ben Murrell, Ethan Lewandowski, Ricky Reeth, Jayson Kowalski, Carson Lewis, Cade Rutherford

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Ocoee

Manager: Josh Hood

Coaches: Taylor Stevens, C.J. Jones, Kevin Brong

Strength: Defense

Dugout digest: “The past couple weeks, they’ve really just come together. They know the reason that we’re here. They realized when you’re on the team, it’s a brotherhood — you’re there for him and he’s there for you.” — Manager Josh Hood

Roster: Bottom row, from left: John Sing, Drew Brown, Joey Schaefer, D.J. Ford, Ryan Brong and Evan King. Middle row, from left: Justin Frias, Brandon Steele, Canaan Mobley, Kai Knudholt, Ari Varner and Justin Godek. Not pictured: Billy Wilson.

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Windermere — National

Manager: Bob Dickerson

Coaches: Avery Goldberg, Tony Taylor

Strength: Hitting

Dugout digest: “We’re considered, actually, the underdog team (from Windermere) — which I love. Who doesn’t love an underdog? These guys, we’re trying to put together a team of synergy … we’re hoping to take it all the way with a theme of synergy behind us.” — Manager Bob Dickerson 

Roster: Bottom row, from left: Luke Dickerson, Joe Taylor, Tyler Goldberg (bat boy), Remington Colon, Roric Maday and Jacob Freeman. Second row, from left: Ethan Goldberg, Adam Gilder, Ryan Bacica, Buddy Pagliuca and Grant Batten. Not pictured: Ryan Stephen, Cole Nabavi, Noah Ellenback and Weston Wall.

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Dr. Phillips

Manager: Dennis Pope

Coaches: Bill Kamaka, John Houde

Strength: Hitting

Dugout digest: “Most of these kids have been together since they were 7 or 8 years old — either playing with each other or against each other. It’s an unbelievable roster. There’s a lot of familiarity.” — Manager Dennis Pope

Roster: Max Cutts, Chase Dunlap, Max Fishman, Michael Furry, Cole Hallman, Grant Houde, Nicholas Ierubino, Travis Jordan, Titan Kamaka, Kaden Lucas, Noah Sullivan, Nicholas Walzak, Mason Wilson

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IF YOU GO

District 14 12-Year-Old All-Stars Tournament

Winter Garden Little League

420 S. Park Avenue (between Story Road and Plant Street on the east side of the road)

Play begins: 6 p.m., July 6 

Championship: 11 a.m. July 12 (tentative rainout days include July 13 to 15)

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MONDAY, JULY 6

6 p.m. — Dr. Phillips vs South Lake - Am.

6:30 p.m. — Windermere - Am. vs Ocoee

8 p.m. — Windermere - Nat. vs Winter Garden

off: South Lake - Nat.

TUESDAY, JULY 7

6 p.m. — Dr. Phillips vs Ocoee

6:30 p.m. — Windermere - Nat vs South Lake - Am

8 p.m. — South Lake - Nat vs Windermere - Am

off: Winter Garden

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8

6 p.m. — Winter Garden vs South Lake - Nat.

6:30 p.m. — Windermere - Am. vs Dr. Phillips

off: Windermere - Nat., Ocoee, South Lake - Am.

THURSDAY, JULY 9

6 p.m. — Dr. Phillips vs South Lake - Nat.

6:30 p.m. — Windermere Nat. vs Ocoee

8 p.m. — South Lake - Am. vs Winter Garden

off: Windermere - Am.

FRIDAY, JULY 10

6 p.m. — South Lake - Nat. vs Windermere - Nat.

6:30 p.m. — Winter Garden vs Ocoee

8 p.m. South Lake - Am. vs Windermere - Am.

SATURDAY, JULY 11

10 a.m. — Semifinal: No. 4 seed vs No. 1 seed

10:30 a.m. — Semifinal: No. 3 seed vs No. 2 seed

SUNDAY, JULY 12

11 a.m. — Championship

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Winner advances to Section 5 Tournament — July 17 to 19 at St. Cloud