'They clearly like to have a good time'

SEYMOUR — Champaign East Little League’s 11U team spent Monday night practicing in what used to be Seymour’s schoolhouse.

The building — which coach David O’Malley renovated into Old School Sports — gave the all-star team a chance to practice on turf that once lined the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility as they geared up for the Illinois state tournament.

“It’s been fun,” O’Malley said. “It’s a fun group. A lot of good kids, good families. They clearly like to have a good time … that’s what I like about Little League is that you get a good mix of kids.”

Big games are nothing new for O’Malley’s group, much of which has grown comfortable under bright lights during the annual Twin City tournament.

Tyler McGuffin, for example, delivered the game-winning hit for Jeremy Brandow Coldwell Banker in the tournament’s championship game, which aired on WDWS 1400-AM.

“It’s been a fun season and we’re glad to still be going,” Billy Monahan said. “We have a lot of fun. A lot of friends on this team.”

It’s not a group that’s feeling the heat with one more year until it’s eligible to play in the Little League World Series.

“There’s a lot of pressure, but we just go up there and just have fun,” Sulaiman Mansuri said.

Plenty of familiar faces will accompany the team to River Forest for the state finals, which commences with games against LaGrange Park and River Forest on Saturday afternoon.

“When you get to advance like this and you get to stay in the hotel, swim in the pool and have families hanging out,” O’Malley said, “it’s good for making memories.”