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Jan 15, 2025

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Comparisons To The 1959 Hamtramck
Little League Team

Lorkowski, Big And Fun With Teammates

  Williamsport, PA —  The 2013 Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League team is the first Michigan squad to make the Little League World Series since Jenison, Michigan did it in 1998.  Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores are the tenth Michigan team to reach the LLWS finals since 1947.  The squad was chosen from an eight team house league.

They are led by 6’3” Chad Lorkowski who has been a dominant pitcher this season.  He has been nicknamed ‘Swag Daddy’ by his teammates.  He also weighs in at 219 pounds, which is big even for high school players.  The soon to be seventh grader likes all the things kids like today, including texting.

In photo:  Lorkowski, 6’3″ and 12 years old pitches at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, PA.

Lorkowski got his team to the famed Williamsport finals by besting Jackie Robinson West Little League from Chicago, Illinois 10-3 and becoming the Great Lakes Region champions.  He towers over his 11 and 12 year old teammates.  In the regional final in Indianapolis, the big man hit two homers to pace his team.  He is most dominant on the mound though.  He struck out ten in six innings.

If Lorkowski continues to excel and Grosse Pointe makes a magical run through the tournament, he could very well become the new face for Detroit area sports.  In 1959 when the Hamtramck Little League team won the LLWS it captivated the area and made celebrities of the players.  They even appeared on national television, The Lawrence Welk Show which aired on ABC.

Grant Holman, 6’4” of Eastlake Little League (Chula Vista, CA) threw a seven inning no-hitter to beat Grosse Pointe 3-0 in their first game.  Grosse Pointe manager Tom Mazzola praised Holman.  “That kid throws hard,” Mazzola said of Holman. “He’s 6-foot-4, he has a nice curveball and he hits his spots.  We haven’t quite faced a pitcher like that, but the same goes for our big fella.  Chad for his size and weight is remarkable.”  No matter how each of these two teams finish, Holman and Lorkowski will be on the sports radar for years to come.  They are already getting national attention.  These games are being aired on ESPN and ESPN2.

Taylor, Michigan again hosted the Jr. Little League World Series which is the next age group up.  The Czech Republic represented Europe.  The Czech Republic won their Euro-Africa Regional at Kutno, Poland.  Zory/Rybnik, Poland was the host team.  The two fields at the Baseball Center at Kutno are named after Stan Musial and Edward Piszek.

 By Raymond Rolak

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