Little League All-Stars growing in Cape Fear region

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It’s safe to say here in Southeastern North Carolina that we live in a baseball community. But from the Whiteville Wolfpack in Columbus County to the UNCW Seahawks in the Port City, everyone starts as a little leaguer. That’s where their passion for America’s pastime grows in the summer.

“You just see that there’s a love for the sport here,” Leland Little League Coach Mike Vaccaro said. “It’s one that the parents enjoy, they love seeing it. As a coach when you see these kids develop, especially in a short amount of time getting together and see them do some different things that we didn’t see them do during the regular season, to see them now doing it on this team is great.”

Once the regular season ends for little league, it’s right back to the fields for summer all-stars. Baseball continues to grow in popularity in our area for the players, coaches and parents alike.

“It’s a commitment for sure,” Wilmington Little League Parent Aimee Kochan said. “They have a lot of time that they spend here at the ballfield, everyday just about. But they’re definitely putting in the hard work to come together as a team. All these boys have played on different teams throughout the season so they’re trying to come together as a team so they can make a showing at the all-stars.”

We see the stars from across the world compete every year in the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania.

For one Wilmington all-star team, they are taking the first step towards that this weekend when their players from 8 to 11 compete in Wilson.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Wilmington Little League Manager Dan Weninger said. “The kids enjoy it. Wilson has a beautiful facility up there. They have a stadium that’s like a mini Williamsport. The kids just love it, they eat it up. They get a little nervous playing in that stadium but they enjoy it.”

Among these stars of tomorrow, we may have our next MacKenzie Gore or even Ryan Jeffers.

Having such success in the high school and college ranks in the area and the state helps motivate these players and keeps the dream alive that even as a player from Southeastern North Carolina, you can play under the bright lights one day too.

“I think it’s great,” Vaccaro said. “We’ve had our team at the UNCW game before. To be able to be around these players and to be able to know them is pretty cool. To see them do what you’re doing as an 8 or 9-year-old and see them do it out there is great.”