A Historic Push Toward Williamsport
The Chaires Little League program has become a fixture in Florida’s youth baseball scene, and this year two of its squads are poised to make a deep run in the state tournament.
The U12 team, composed mostly of players who captured the previous year’s U11 championship, opened sectionals with a dominant 22‑1 victory over South Walton across two games, a performance that has left head coach Aleck Del Prado confident in both his pitching staff and batting lineup.
Del Prado, who has guided the team through a rigorous summer schedule, says the combination of experienced arms and a potent offense gives the club a realistic shot at advancing to the Little League World Series in Williamsport.
The U11 side, under coach Josh Andrews, has also impressed, rattling off double‑digit scores in every contest except their first sectional game, a testament to a balanced attack that Andrews believes can sustain a championship run.
Both teams will now travel to the state finals, where the stakes will be higher and the competition tougher, but the Chaires organization remains optimistic that its developmental model is paying dividends.
Coverage of the tournament is being provided by WCTV, which has been a longtime partner of local sports coverage in the region.