Riverton 12u Little League Baseball Team Gears Up To Represent Kansas at the Midwest Regionals

The Riverton 12-and-under Little League baseball team is on a roll, recently claiming the Kansas state title for just the third time this century.

With the team now heading to the Midwest regional in Indianapolis, Indiana, one stop before the little league world series, the players are as confident as ever.

“I got a lot of confidence that we’ll do really good,” said Jed Pillar, a member of Riverton’s Little League team.

The team’s head coach, Ryan Adler, has worked with the majority of the Riverton Little League team since their days in tee ball, watching them grow every step of the way. Of course, every coach out there wants to see their team win, but Adler was particularly excited to see the raw emotion on his players’ faces after winning the state title.

“I’ve coached these kids for seven or eight years now,” Adler said. “You know, when you coach them that long and so many baseball games, so many practices, yeah, you really feel like they’re your own. And so you see those emotions on their faces, their excitement. You’re excited as a coach. It’s great. It’s a great feeling.”

Nailing the fundamentals and keeping focused throughout the lengthy gauntlet of competition is one thing, but Adler wants to ensure his players enjoy the fun aspects of the sport when out on the field.

“This 12-year-old class, they’re all friends. Even the 11 year olds,” Adler said. “I mean, they play every sport together. Football, baseball, basketball. The culture is awesome. It’s not just business for them. I mean, they they like to come out and have fun.”

While the kids can call themselves champions, the parents supporting from the stands can take a sigh of relief knowing all those hours of practice, games and getting the best gear have come to fruition.

“I love seeing my son going out there and he’s got just an infectious smile,” said Jimi Adams, a Riverton parent and pioneer behind the team’s fundraising efforts. “So when he gets out there, you know he’s having fun. But yeah, it’s business and they’re having fun. They’re playing a game, but they’re still 12. They’re still having fun, and we just hope they never lose that joy.”

Riverton’s journey isn’t over quite yet, as the team will now face the Iowa state champions in the first round of the Midwest regional double elimination bracket.

Not only does the team have the opportunity to travel to Indiana for the next round, but their games will also be broadcast on ESPN+.

12u All-Star Mason Kinsley had four simple words when asked about playing on a nationally broadcast stream: “Once in a lifetime.”

The Riverton team continues their quest to reach the Little League World Series on Friday, August 2 at 1 p.m. CST against the Iowa state champions.

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