Meet the Sioux Falls Little League team competing as South Dakota in Midwest Regionals
After taking home the Little League State Championship, the Sioux Falls Little League All-Stars are heading to Indiana for the Midwest Regional Tournament that takes place Aug. 5-12.
If they are victorious against teams from Minnesota, North Dakota, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin, they will travel to Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the Little League World Series. Last year, the team made a deep run in the postseason classic, before eventually falling to Ohio.
This year, the team is made up of a handful of Sioux Falls athletes who have been playing together for a number of years now. The team has won the 10-under, 11-under and now 12-under state tournaments.
More: South Dakota Little League team from Sioux Falls set for Midwest Regional. Here's what to know.
Here's a look at this year's squad:
Kade Oehlke, #1
School: St. Katharine Drexel
Position: 1B/P
Favorite MLB player: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
Favorite MLB team: Los Angeles Dodgers
Expectations for regional tournament: "We just have fun. If we lose, we lose. If we win, we're just going to keep on grinding."
Tanner Charron, #2
Position: CF/P
Favorite MLB player: Bryon Buxton
Favorite MLB team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite video game: MLB The Show 22
Favorite thing to do in Sioux Falls: Hanging out with teammates
Expectations for regional tournament: "Just moving on, going to Williamsport, hopefully."
What makes the team special: "We're just great to each other and we're so nice to each other."
Cooper Durick, #3
School: Tri-Valley
Position: RF/P
Favorite MLB player: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
Favorite video game: Fortnite
Expectations for regional tournament: "(Looking forward to) moving on, having some fun."
Grady Johnson, #4
Position: C
Favorite MLB player: Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
Favorite MLB team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite video game: Fortnite
Favorite thing to do in Sioux Falls: Play Wiffleball with friends
Talec Schlimgen, #5
Position: SS/P
Favorite MLB player: Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
Favorite video game: MLB The Show 22
What makes this team special: "We've been together since 10-U and we won three state championships, so we had that connection and I mean, we hang out whenever we're not in baseball."
What he's looking forward to at regionals: "I think the road trip and meeting new people and ... just having fun."
Dawson Barck, #6
Position: 2B/P
School: Ben Reifel Middle School
Favorite video game: MLB The Show 22
Favorite MLB player: Javy Baez
Favorite MLB team: Chicago Cubs
What he's looking forward to at Regionals: "The van ride, making it hopefully past Indiana into the World Series and having fun."
Sajen Haas, #7
School: Ben Reifel Middle School
Position: LF/P
Favorite MLB player: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Favorite thing to do in Sioux Falls: "I guess, go to Air Madness."
Expectations for regional tournament: "I hope we get some W's."
Chase Yde, #9
Position: 1B
Favorite MLB player: Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
Favorite video game: Grand Theft Auto 5
Expectations for regional tournament: "Just to have fun and hopefully we win one game."
Favorite thing to do in town: "Probably hang out with the boys."
Eli Hart, #10
Position: 3B/P
Favorite MLB player: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox
Favorite MLB team: Milwaukee Brewers
Team strengths: "Definitely our hitting, just staying in the game and staying with it at all times."
Favorite video game: Call of Duty
Favorite movie: The Batman
Henry Schmitz, #18
School: St. Mary's
Position: 2B/P
Favorite MLB player: Luis Arraez, Minnesota Twins
Favorite video game: MLB The Show 22
Favorite thing to do in Sioux Falls: "Hanging out with friends"
Expectations for regional tournament: "I hope we can just go play baseball and win and go to the Little League World Series."
Owen Rempp, #27
School: Harrisburg North Middle School
Position: RF/P
Favorite MLB Player: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
Favorite thing to do in Sioux Falls: "Hanging out with friends"
Favorite video game: MLB The Show 2022
Expectations for regional tournament: "Play good baseball and move on to the World Series."
Henrik Kortan, #34
School: St. Mary's Elementary School
Position: LF
Favorite MLB player: Javy Baez, Detriot Tigers
Favorite MLB team: Chicago Cubs
Favorite thing to do in Sioux Falls: "Hang out with friends."
Expectations for regional tournament: "Going out and getting some W's."
Evin Edwards, #44
Position: SS/P
Favorite MLB player: Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers
Favorite video game: MLB The Show 22
Favorite thing to do in Sioux Falls: "Going to baseball card shops."
Expectations for regional tournament: "Hopefully we can win and then go to the Little League World Series."
Max Vortherms, #99
School: St. Mary's Elementary School
Position: 1B
Favorite MLB player: Max Kepler
Favorite MLB team: Minnesota Twins
Favorite video game: Madden 22
Favorite thing to do in Sioux Falls: "Hang out with friends"
Expectations for regional tournament: "(My hope) is get some wins and have some good bonding time together as a team."
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota Little League team headed to LLWS Regional tournament