A Philly-area Little League team is one win from Williamsport — and the kids are living ‘every 12 year old’s dream’

East Side Little League, a 12-and-under baseball team based in West Chester, is one win away from stamping its ticket to Williamsport for the Little League World Series. The moment is not lost on the team’s players.

“It’s every 12 year old’s dream, and we’re living it right now,” said left fielder Paul Cooperthwaite.

On Friday, East Side will play in the Little League Mid-Atlantic regional final (ESPN, 3.p.m.) in Bristol, Conn. They will face the team from Delaware — Naamans Little League, from Wilmington. Naamans, who beat Capitol Hill Little League (Washington, D.C.), 7-2, on Thursday, is just a 30-minute drive (about 15 miles) from East Side. The winner of Friday’s game will represent the Mid-Atlantic Region in the Little League World Series.

“We’re not looking ahead,” coach Bob Hennessey, whose son Ryan plays on the team, said. “You know, when we get into a game situation, we tell them, ‘Hey, let’s win every inning.’ That’s been our mantra for the last couple years.”

Added first baseman Dillon DiGiulio: “I knew we could make it this far. We’ve faced so many challenges, and just to make it here, it’s been great.”

East Side cruised through districts and sectionals before falling in their second matchup of the Pennsylvania State Little League Tournament. The state tournament is double-elimination, so Hennessey’s team had to claw out of the losers’ bracket to have a chance at regionals — which they did. By winning each of its next four games, East Side secured a spot in the state title game against Blue Mountain (Schuylkill County).

In the final inning — the top of the sixth — and with the championship game tied, East Side third baseman Jack Cassidy hit a grand slam to take a 12-8 lead and propelling them to the four-team regional stage.

“They had the mentality of, ‘Hey we’re not ready to go home yet,’” Hennessey said. “I think it was just like, ‘Stay focused, go out there, and continue to play your game.’ We made a couple changes in our lineup [after the loss]. That’s also what helped spark the way we started playing after that, and then we started hitting the ball really well and scoring a lot of runs.”

East Side’s two Mid-Atlantic regional games have come with less dramatics. The West Chester side trounced Delaware, 8-1, on Sunday before shutting out Washington, 10-0, on Tuesday. While the team is staying in Bristol, the West Chester community is cheering them on from home. Throughout their run, local restaurants have hosted watch parties.

“It’s been fun,” Cooperthwaite said. “I’ve heard all about it. Everyone’s telling me about all the watch parties.”

The team even received a video from recent Phillies Wall of Fame inductee Chase Utley, who wished the squad good luck. Although all the players were in diapers when Utley played his last game as a Phillie in 2015, they were more than excited to hear from a baseball legend.

With so much noise around the team, Hennessey is looking to keep his players focused.

“Keeping them thinking about baseball,” Hennessey said. “Obviously, they have other interests and stuff, but they bought into ‘we’re here to play baseball.’ We have an end goal in sight, and you know we’re one win away. They’re right there at the goal.”

If East Side advances to Williamsport, they’ll join a trio of other Philly-area teams who have represented the Mid-Atlantic at the Little League World Series: Glenmoore Eagle Little League (from Upper Uwchlan Township) last year, Council Rock Newtown Little League in 2024, and Media Little League in 2023.