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Every player has made a mark while helping his or her team reach the World Series. Every coach can tell a story about those players doing something critical which helped the team reach this point.
Obviously, it has been a strong, collective effort which has brought these 16 teams to South Williamsport with a shot at winning a world championship. But the following is a look at 10 U.S. players to keep an eye on who are coming off outstanding regional tournament performances.
MASON AMERGIAN, MAINE
A true five-tool player, Amergian has been a defensive dynamo throughout the summer, excelling as both a catcher and shortstop. He also is one of this balanced team's top hitters and and excellent pitcher, unloading his entire arsenal at the New England Regional. Amergian hit .400 in Bristol, Connecticut, smashing a grand slam, driving in five runs and scoring three times. He was in the middle of a seventh-inning rally against New Hampshire in the team's first game before closing out the 3-0 win in the next half inning. Amergian threw 5 2/3 brilliant innings in a winner's bracket final victory against Massachusetts and went 1-0 with a save at regionals, allowing just one run and striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings and helping Maine improve to 26-0 this summer.
AUSTIN CHOWLEY, PENNSYLVANIA
This was a tough call, but Crowley edges out Mid-Atlantic championship hero Trevor Skowronek who hit a two-run, walk-off home run against Washington, D.C. in the championship. Crowley put on a pitching clinic in Bristol, going 1-0, not allowing a run and holding some potent offenses to just one hit in eight sensational innings. The hard-throwing right-hander kept Pennsylvania in the game during the Mid-Atlantic final and mowed through Washington D.C., striking out 13 in five one-hit innings. He closed regionals with 19 strikeouts in eight innings, never letting a runner advance past second base. He also packs a wallop at the plate, hitting .500 in three regional games. Crowley belted two doubles, scored four times and reached base in all three games.
CONNOR CURTIS, RHODE ISLAND
A hard-nosed team had a lot of heroes, as have all the teams in this field, but Curtis cast an especially large shadow upon Rhode Island's Metro Region opponents. The hard-throwing, sweet-swinging lefty was equally imposing whether pitching or hitting. He was virtually untouchable in the Metro final against previously undefeated New York, striking out 14 in 5 2/3 masterful innings as Rhode Island won, 7-1. In two outings against New York, Curtis struck out 22 and scattered six hits in 10 1/3 innings. He also was the field's most feared hitter at regionals, slamming a U.S.-best three home runs in three consecutive games. Teams walked Curtis five times to avoid pitching to him, but he still went 4 for 6 with those three dingers, a double and five runs.
DJ JABLONSKI, TEXAS
Strong in all facets at the Southwest Regional, Jablonski excelled at four different positions while also helping spark a potent offense. Jablonski hit .778, going 7 for 9, and produced at least one hit in all four games. The team's No. 3 hitter launched a mammoth go-ahead, two-run home run against Louisiana in the championship before closing out that game on the mound. Jablonski also belted a triple and led the eight-team Southwest field with seven RBIs. He also scored four runs, including two in the final where Jablonski went 2 for 2 with a walk. The hard-throwing righty also earned the save in that game, finishing regionals 1-0 with two saves and 13 strikeouts in seven innings.
TREY KIRCHOFF, WASHINGTON
Whether pitching or hitting, Kirchoff was a force in San Bernardino. The ace for a team which overpowered three Northwest opponents, outscoring them 33-1, Kirchoff shut down every team Washington faced. The hard-throwing righty went 3-0 and surrendered just one run in 11 innings, while striking out 21. Kirchoff was especially tough on Northwest finalist Alaska, fanning 17 batters in two victories. He was just as dangerous offensively, hitting safely in all three games and going 6 for 8 with a triple and double. Kirchoff added RBIs and runs in each game, totaling four RBIs and three runs. Like so many strong Little League players, Kirchoff shines at multiple positions, providing strong defense as a catcher and center fielder.
KEVIN KLINGERMAN, OHIO
A dominant left-handed pitcher, no Great Lakes team could crack Klingerman who overpowered each one. Klingerman matched a U.S.-high, winning three games, going 3-0 while not allowing a run in any appearance. Klingerman threw a dominant two-hit shutout against previously undefeated Illinois in the regional final, striking out eight. Before that he shut down Michigan and Kentucky and closed regionals, surrendering just three hits in 11 2/3 innings, while striking out 18. Oh yeah, he can hit, too. Klingerman reached base in all four games and went 6 for 11 with two home runs, six RBIs, five runs and two walks. Klingerman helped ignite the offense, homering in each of its first two victories.
LOUIS LAPPE, CALIFORNIA
The man his teammates call "The Natural" did his best Roy Hobbs impersonation at the West Regional, powering California with both his big part and powerful arm. Lappe was nearly perfect offensively, going 6 for 7 with a double and a run scored. Lappe helped ignite the game-changing rally against Northern California in the regional championship and produced two hits in all three victories. Lappe also shut down Northern California on the mound in the championship, striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings. He was virtually untouchable in San Bernardino, going 1-0 with a save, surrendering hits in only one of three appearances and striking out 12 batters in eight innings. Lappe went 4 for 4 in two victories against the West runner-up as well.
LOGAN LEVASSEUR, NEVADA
Nolan Gifford put together the most dominant regional pitching performance since South Dakota's Gavin Weir in 2021 and David Edwards shined at the plate, but Levasseur edges out a loaded field after batting nearly 1.000 at the Mountain Regional. Levasseur went 6 for 7, tying Lappe for the best U.S. batting average at .857, while helping Nevada outscore three opponents, 17-4. The third baseman/pitcher provides thunder down under and highlights the team's depth, excelling from the No. 9 spot in the order. Levasseur smoked three doubles, produced three consecutive multi-hit performances and added two RBIs. He also shut down Mountain finalist Utah in the winner's bracket final, earning the win and allowing just one hit in 3 2/3 innings while striking out seven.
LUCAS MCCAULEY, TENNESSEE
Florida paid McCauley the ultimate compliment in the Southeast championship, pitching around McCauley and walking him three straight times while throwing him one strike in those at-bats. Florida being careful with McCauley made sense after the team's No. 2 batter hit .455 with a home run, three RBIs and six runs at regionals. A skilled first baseman and third baseman, McCauley compiled a fantastic .647 on-base percentage. McCauley was a rock in the infield defensively and reached base in all five games. McCauley adds pitching depth and came up big in a 7-2 win over Virginia, scattering three hits in five innings, while striking out three and hitting a home run.
JACKSON MOLDEN, NORTH DAKOTA
No player hit better than Molden did at the eight-team Midwest Regional. Molden wore out pitchers there, hitting .667 and going 8 for 12. More impressive, the reliable catcher slammed four doubles and drove in a U.S.-high 10 runs while helping North Dakota reach the Series for the first time. Molden reached base multiple times in all five games, hit safely in four and scored six times. Molden was at his best in a comeback elimination game win against Iowa. That day, he went 2 for 3 with two doubles and drove in six runs, helping his team produce 10 runs in the third and fourth innings. He also provides stellar defense behind the plate, skillfully keeps balls in front of him and handles North Dakota's pitchers well.