With the University of Florida’s win over LSU in the College World Series® this June, the 2017 college baseball and softball seasons are officially over. The Gators join the Oklahoma Sooners, who defeated the Florida women in the Women’s College World Series®, as 2017 national champions in their respective sports. Among the most elite college baseball and softball players in the 2017 CWS and WCWS were 28 Little League® graduates who are making their mark in the college ranks.
NOTE: If you know of a player that we have missed, please e-mail the information, including name, current college team and the name of the city or town where they played Little League, to [email protected].
College World Series (CWS)
There were nine former Little League Baseball® players in the College World Series, from Florida, Florida State, Louisville and LSU.
University of Florida
Christian Hicks, St. Augustine (Fla.) Little League
Florida State University
Drew Parrish, Rockledge (Fla.) Little League, 2012 JLBWS champion;
University of Louisville
Devin Mann, Bartholomew County (Ind.) Little League, 2009 Great Lakes Region runner-up
Drew Ellis, Jeffersonville/GRC American (Ind.) Little League, 2008 LLBWS participant
Chandler Dale, Jefferson/GRC American (Ind.) Little League, 2008 LLBWS and 2010 JLBWS participant
LSU
Antoine Duplantis, Lafayette (La.) Little League, 2005 LLBWS participant
Cole Freeman, Pilney (La.) Little League
Beau Jordan South Lake Charles (La.) Little League, 2008 LLBWS U.S. runner-up
Bryce Jordan South Lake Charles (La.) Little League, 2008 LLBWS U.S. runner-up
Women’s College World Series (WCWS)
The 19 Little League Softball® alumni participating in the Women’s College World Series played for Baylor, LSU, Oregon, Florida, Washington and UCLA.
Baylor University
Kayla Walker, Franklin (Texas) Little League
Taylor Ellis, Midway (Texas) Little League, 2011 LLSWS runner-up
Madi O’Neal, Huffman (Texas) Little League
Sydney Christensen, Crawford (Texas) Little League
University of Florida
Sophia Reynoso, Palmdale (Calif.) Little League
Aleshia Ocasio, Conway (Fla.) Little League
LSU
Layna Savoie, Lake Charles (La.) Little League
Aliyah Andrews, Oldsmar (Fla.) Little League
Carley Hoover, Simpsonville (S.C.) Little League, 2008 LLSWS champion
University of Oregon
Maggie Balint, Avon Grove (Pa.) Little League
UCLA
Rachel Garcia, Palmdale (Calif.) Little League
Izzy Ordorica, West Tampa (Fla.) Little League
University of Washington
Gianna Carideo, South Tampa (Fla.) Little League, 2013 JLSWS champion
Rachel Ogasawara, Waipio (Hawaii) Little League, 2009 State Champion
Kaija Gibson, Redmond (Wash.) Little League
Julia Deponte, Vacaville Central (Calif.) Little League
Taran Alevelo, Lucasville (Ohio) Little League
Trysten Melhart
Maggie Gallagher