Team faces Kentucky Thursday at 2 p.m. on ESPN
By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
If you flipped on ESPN’S “Sportscenter” Tuesday morning, you didn’t see Aaron Rodgers throwing a bomb to Jordy Nelson or Ronda Rousey knocking out another fighter in a UFC fight.
Among all the big-time, national sports news, a 12-year-old kid from little old Burlington, Wis. stole the spotlight.
Burlington Little League 12U pitcher Markus Thomsen struck out batter after batter in a five-inning perfect game masterpiece that had the Internet and social media ablaze.
Media outlets from ESPN to CBS Sports to Major League Baseball all tweeted about the rare accomplishment, which lifted Burlington to a 10-0 victory Monday over Illinois and a spot in Thursday’s semifinal against Kentucky.
“Pitching a no-hitter just doesn’t happen very often, especially at the national level of play,” said Burlington coach Scott Safar. “Hats off to Markus and our defense on this achievement.”
A national tournament that started with 3,800 teams is now down to 50, and Burlington is battling to be one of two teams from 12 at this week’s regional to advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Burlington will continue the double-elimination tournament Thursday at 2 p.m. on ESPN against Kentucky.
Against Illinois, Ethan Safar started the scoring in the first with a two-run double, which plated Thomsen and Cody Carlson.
Then, Zach Wallace walked and forced a throw from the catcher on an attempted steal, which sent Safar home. Mason McIntyre finished the rally with an RBI single to score Joe Zuleger, and Burlington was off to a 4-0 lead.
After tacking on a run in the second, Burlington scored three more in the fourth to put the game away.
Thomsen, Carlson, Safar and Wallace reeled off four straight hits to make it 8-0.
Thomsen kept cruising along on the mound, and Burlington ended the game with two runs in the fifth.
McIntyre’s single led off the inning, followed by a Dylan Minnich fielder’s choice.
Thomsen then drove in Minnich with a double, and Chase Ketterhagen’s single scored Thomsen to secure the 10-0 run rule.
Thomsen needed only 61 pitches to strike out nine and didn’t allow a walk.
Thomsen and McIntyre both went 3-for-3 at the plate, and Safar was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Carlson added two hits.
“It was a memorable start to regionals,” Scott Safar said. “Every team here is a state champion, and it was great to see Wisconsin up for the challenge and firing on all cylinders.”
“We all know if we win the next two games, we will be in Williamsport. The kids are having the time of their lives out here. They will never forget the experience.”
Follow Burlington Little League on social media
It’s been almost a month, and the Burlington Little League 12U All-Star team is still alive and kicking.
On Thursday, the state champs will take on Kentucky as the 2015 Great Lakes Regional Tournament continues in Indianapolis.
The game, which begins at 2 p.m., will be televised on ESPN. If Burlington can win, it will advance to Saturday’s Great Lakes championship game, which would be on ESPN at 4 p.m.
If Burlington loses, it can still come back and win Friday to advance to Saturday’s title bout, thanks to the tournament’s double-elimination format.
The Burlington Standard Press and Sports Editor Mike Ramczyk have you covered all week.
We will be live tweeting Thursday afternoon’s game, so follow Ramczyk on Twitter @mikeramczyk17.
Also, you can like the Standard Press Sports Facebook page for updates, photos and more.
As always, visit our website, www.myracinecounty.com, for breaking news, photos and more about the local boys.
This is the second time Burlington has advanced to the Great Lakes semifinal. It has never made it to the finals.
For more information, email Ramczyk at [email protected], or check out the tournament website, www.llbws.org/llbbws/greatlakes.htm.
The winner of this weekend’s Great Lakes regional advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Burlington has advanced to regionals five times since 2009, but has never made it all the way to Williamsport.
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