Little League Baseball announced that Lake Oswego’s own Charlie LeBlanc has advanced to the T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby West Regionals on July 8. LeBlanc secured his spot after a dominant performance at the Lake Oswego Little League Home Run Derby on June 1, where he hit 30 home runs in three 90-second rounds.
By outperforming hundreds of participants, LeBlanc earned one of 10 coveted spots in the 2024 West Regionals. This achievement has granted him an all-expenses-paid trip to compete on July 21 at 5 p.m. at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Wash.
The West Region comprises Little Leagues from 12 states, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Across the nation, only 20 players remain in the competition — 10 from the West and 10 from the East. A top-four finish at the West Regionals will secure LeBlanc a place in the T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby, to be held in Williamsport, Penn., on Aug. 22 during the Little League World Series.
LeBlanc’s journey to this point has been marked by dedication and hard work. His father Louis recently shared the inspiration behind his home run derby pursuits.
“In 2021, the Lake Oswego 12u all-star team advanced to Williamsport to play in the Little League World Series. Charlie was 9 years old at the time and just starting to develop his baseball skills,” Louis said. “We were inspired by this group of local boys and started dreaming about one day our team doing the same when he was 12.”
In 2023, LeBlanc competed in the home run derby for the first time, finishing third with 11 home runs. Determined to improve, he set a goal to win the local event in 2024.
His hard work paid off earlier this summer, as he hit 30 home runs and secured his place in the top-10 of the 12 western states, earning his trip to Seattle.
LeBlanc’s success on the field extends beyond the home run derby. On the same day he won the local derby, his team also claimed the Lake Oswego American League championship for 11- and 12-year-olds. LeBlanc was named to the Lake Oswego 12u all-star team, where he played as the starting shortstop and hit three home runs in the district tournament.
“As parents, his mom Lisa and I have encouraged him to work hard and set goals for himself,” Louis said. “He is an outstanding student at Lake Oswego Junior High School and enjoys robotics, video games, reading and swimming. His short-term goals are to continue to improve as a student-athlete and to keep improving as a baseball player to play for the Lakers in high school.”
LeBlanc’s progress is also thanks to his dedication to training. The Lake Oswego native has been working with a hitting coach, Trent Oleszczuk, for the past three years.
“Baseball is all about reps, and (Oleszczuk) has taught him the proper mechanics of how to swing a baseball bat and continues to refine his technique,” Louis said. “Coach Trent believes he has special skills that will one day translate into a fine high school and possibly college baseball player.”
With the support of his family, coaches and community, LeBlanc is now set to take on the next challenge at the West Regionals in Seattle
“His mom and I are so proud of everything he has achieved so far in his young life, but his continuous pursuit of becoming a better baseball player is what got him to this moment,” Louis said. “Nothing on the baseball field surprises me anymore as he just seems to have a knack for figuring out how to compete and improve his skill level. We’re excited to follow his journey over the coming years as he gets older and moves on to higher levels of baseball.”
Most Popular
Comments / 0