July 15, 2009
Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THINK DETROIT PAL SENIOR LEAGUE BASEBALL ALL STARS ADVANCE IN LITTLE LEAGUE TOURNAMENT
TDP TEAM WILL PLAY IN SECTIONALS JULY 18-19  

DETROIT,Mich.—Think Detroit PAL’s senior league baseball team earned six wins and advanced to sectionals this week at the Michigan 6th District Little League tournament.   

The senior league team, composed of 15 and 16-year-old all stars from TDP’s A’s and Eagles, dominated their 6th District competition taking six games out of seven and averaging more than 12 runs scored per game.  On Tuesday, the team swept undefeated Harper Woods in a double-header to advance to sectionals.

TDP will host the sectionals games from July 18-19.  The best of three series will be played at Bishop Field, behind Northwestern High School.  Games will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday with a third game, if necessary, Sunday afternoon.       

TDP’s offensive barrage during the tournament was fueled by sluggers Ruben Flowers and Joshua Allen of the A’s.  TDP veterans Alexander Wilson and Darius Woods held down the pitching staff along with the A’s David Baker, who won two games.  Woods collected three hits in the final game. 

This was the second year Think Detroit PAL’s all star baseball and softball teams competed against other Metro Detroit teams for the chance to play in the Little League World Series.  Think Detroit PAL sent more than 100 players aged eight to 16 to the tournament this year.  The teams, which represent Southwest, East and Northwest Detroit, were selected via try outs towards the end of the regular season.  The boys’ senior league team joined the junior league softball team as the only Think Detroit PAL teams to advance. 

 “Little League is a kids-first organization, which is right in line with our philosophy” said Tim Richey, director of program, player & coach development for Think Detroit PAL.  “That is why we are excited to participate in this tournament and give our all stars a chance to experience higher-level play.”

Think Detroit PAL was formed on March 1, 2006, by the merger of two of the leading youth development organizations in the Detroit area:  Think Detroit, Inc. and the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL). The organization is one of the largest non-profit urban youth leadership programs in the nation, and serves nearly 12,000 youth annually.