A historic win: North Regina's 2023 Little League World Series appearance remains one for the history books
North Regina’s Little League World Series run may have come to an end over the weekend. However, the team is leaving the competition having done something no team from Regina has done before – win a game.
North Regina’s journey to Williamsport, Pa. began on home turf with an unlikely comeback at the Little League Canadian Championships in Regina.
After three straight losses off the hop – North Regina was forced to win out – and they did.
“We had like a team meeting out on the field when we lost and everybody said, 'Let's go boys, we're gonna win this boys,'” Nickson Hjelsing, told CTV News on Aug. 10.
"We just kept grinding, winning one game at a time, one pitch at a time," Braeden McQueen added.
With their ticket to the Little League World Series punched, they packed for Pennsylvania – becoming just the second team from Regina to ever make it there.
The first came in 2002 where the team was competitive in each of its games but was unable to pick up a win.
A little rain on the parade in Williamsport was not nearly enough to dampen their spirits.
"The boys are just soaking in this event, the opportunity that's in front of them," Coach Dean McQueen told CTV Morning Live on Aug. 16.
The team’s first opponent on the international stage was a difficult one in Chinese Taipei.
Regardless, the squad was optimistic at the start of the game.
“[We’re feeling] pretty good. We're here now – just gonna go out there, throw my best, do my best, do what I can," Jaxon Weir told TSN on Aug. 17.
Despite facing a team that finished in the finals of the international bracket in 2022, North Regina held Chinese Taipei to six runs.
The loss put them in a must-win situation against their next opponent – the Czech Republic.
The team played well – shutting out the Czechs 3-0 and making history as the first Regina team ever to win a game at the World Series.
Unfortunately, the journey came to an end the following day in the squad’s matchup against Mexico – resulting in a 10-1 loss.
The players were left with a glimpse at big dreams – taking in the MLB Little League classic later that night – creating memories that are sure to last a lifetime.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

NEW Speaker Fergus apologizes, facing cross-party condemnation for video played at partisan Liberal event
House of Commons Speaker Greg Fergus apologized to MPs on Monday about a 'personal' video tribute message played this weekend at the Ontario Liberal Party leadership convention, amid opposition parties calling his participation in a partisan event unacceptable and demanding further accountability.
4 in custody after 'brutal' death of Quebec entrepreneur, partner in Dominica
Four people are in police custody after Quebec businessman Daniel Langlois and his partner Dominique Marchand were found dead in Dominica.
Unity Acquisitions snaps up much of toy store Mastermind, 18 stores to close
Ailing toy retailer Mastermind GP Inc. says it has reached a deal to sell the bulk of its business to a company representing three big names in the Canadian retail world.
NDP calling on Liberals to establish special immigration measures to help Canadians with families in Gaza
The federal NDP is urging the Liberals to immediately create special immigration measures to allow the evacuation of extended family members of Canadians and permanent residents in Gaza.
Here's how many people will be at risk of homelessness by 2030, according to this AI
An artificial intelligence algorithm has estimated that Canada’s homeless population will almost double by 2030. Researchers fear a lack of action will make this prediction come true.
opinion As Trump burns though cash, powerful Republicans are rallying behind a surging candidate
With less than 50 days until Republican voters begin the process of determining their nominee to take on President Joe Biden, political analyst Eric Ham writes about a storm brewing within the GOP -- as super-donors align behind a surging candidate who could pose a threat to frontrunner Donald Trump.
Dam threatens to burst in the Laurentians, residents evacuated from homes
People living in Chute-Saint-Philippe and Lac-des-Ecorces in the Laurentians are being asked to evacuate their homes due to potential infrastructure issues at the Kiamika dam and Morier dike.
Southern B.C. braces for heavy rain as atmospheric river makes landfall
An atmospheric river has made landfall in southern British Columbia, prompting Environment and Climate Change Canada to issue rainfall warnings for Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island.
Israel orders evacuations as it widens offensive but Palestinians are running out of places to go
Israel's military renewed calls Monday for mass evacuations from the southern town of Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in recent weeks, as it widened its ground offensive and bombarded targets across the Gaza Strip.