TD’s Kellen Elliott Rises to the Challenge of Playing on Inaugural National Lefty Elite Team at Youth World Series

Aug 8

Written By Columbia Community Connection

Kellen Elliott proudly displays his championship ring and sends a Lefty salute to his fellow elite teammates.

Photos and Story by Hailey Elliott

The Dalles, Ore., Aug. 8, 2025 — Kellen Elliott, a familiar name around The Dalles ball fields, earned national recognition this summer as one of just 11 players selected to the inaugural Lefty Elite team — a nationwide squad made up entirely of left-handed baseball players.

To be considered for the team, aspiring athletes submitted videos and stats for the first round of cuts. Those who advanced underwent a second round via Zoom interviews, where they were asked not only about their love for the game, but also thought-provoking questions like, “Would you rather go 3-for-3 with 3 home runs and your team loses, or 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and your team wins?” From more than 150 interviewed players across the country, only 11 rose to the top.

Representing states including California, Texas, Florida, Utah, and beyond, the players met in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for the Youth World Series Tournament. Though never having met before arriving — and with just two days to prepare (under the threat of a tornado, no less), they had one day of fielding practice and one day in the batting cages to get ready. But the Midwest lightning storms were no match for the thunderous crack of bats as these lefties bonded quickly, and coaches began to shape the lineup. Coach Skyler Miller, from Orange, California — the visionary behind Lefty Elite — told the team to expect a few hiccups as they’d be playing positions rarely occupied by left-handers. Yet, the talented group of 12-year-olds defied expectations and quickly became the talk of the tournament.
The Lefty Elite team went undefeated, finishing with a 6-0 record and clinching the championship with a 6-1 victory over MASH, a powerhouse team from Minneapolis. By day one, other players were overheard saying things like, “I don’t want to play that lefty team!” and curious spectators with no ties to the team showed up just to witness them in action.

The numbers were staggering: 71 runs scored, only 10 runs allowed. Defensively, they were equally impressive, recording just three minor errors across the entire tournament — a bobbled grounder, an overthrow to first, and a missed pick-off attempt that allowed the runner to advance.

Coach Skyler, who came up with the idea for this team a couple of years ago while waiting for brackets to be posted in the bunkhouses at Cooperstown, reflected on the experience: "I’ve coached a lot of baseball, and I have to say this is by far the biggest accomplishment of my coaching career. We got together and did something no one thought we could do. I need to take a look at schedules and see about getting this group back together.”

When asked about his favorite part of the tournament, Kellen didn’t hesitate: “The friends that I made, and what it felt like to play on this caliber of team.”

The crowning achievement of Kellen’s 2025 baseball season wasn’t just the Youth World Series ring — it was the friendships, memories, and the chance to be part of something truly unique. In the words coined by Coach Sklyer and now shouted by a select group of Lefty Elite ballplayers, "LEFTS GO!!!!!!!!"