The first indication that Davenport Northwest (Iowa) Little League's all-star team had the potential to reach the Little League World Series came nearly one year before the start of the 2004 international tournament, during pool competition in the Iowa District 2 tournament.

"Trevor (Kenyon) and Jacob (Gibson) were on the Northwest team last year," explained Davenport manager Tom Kenyon, Jr. "We actually beat the North Scott team in pool play, but we lost before we got back around.

"They knew they could play with them," added Tom Kenyon Jr. "This was their goal."

'This' was no small task: replicating the success of North Scott's 2003 team, which won the Midwest Region tournament and advanced to the Little League World Series.

Davenport Northwest was up to the task, defeating Robbinsdale (Minnesota) Little League 5-4 in the 2004 Midwest Region championship game at the Ruben F. Glick Little League Baseball Center in Indianapolis. With the win, Davenport Northwest became the fourth league from Iowa's District 2 to advance to the Little League World Series in the past five years.

"I think since (Davenport) East started going, the attention of the kids has increased," said Tom Kenyon Jr.

Davenport East Little League began the string of the Davenport area's recent success by reaching the Little League World Series in 2000 and 2001.

"It really gives the kids the thought that they can do it, too," he added.

Davenport Northwest helped extend the success, but not before avenging an earlier loss and overcoming a 4-1 championship game deficit.

Northwest started their comeback in the fourth inning, scoring three runs to tie the game. Jacob Lafrenz's infield single on a swinging bunt scored Gibson, and Jacob Maxwell then scored on a wild pitch. Cody Lambert followed with a single to left field that drove in Andrew Coffman with the tying run.

In the fifth, Trevor Kenyon reached on an infield single and eventually scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

Davenport had seven hits in the championship game, a markedly better performance than when they faced Robbinsdale in the tournament's first pool game. Minnesota pitcher Tyler Ockuly overwhelmed the Iowa champions, throwing a no-hitter and striking out thirteen batters as Robbinsdale edged Northwest 2-1.

"He's probably the hardest thrower we have seen," said Tom Kenyon, Jr., who saw a silver lining in his team's opening round loss.

"This was a good test for them," said the Davenport manager of his team's loss.

"I think the highlight at this point is getting here to the regional," he explained. "Now it will be interesting to see if (Davenport's players) accept the challenge and realize that if you're going to play at this level, you've got to step up your game."

Davenport Northwest rose to the challenge, overcoming an early 2-0 deficit against Blair (Nebraska) Little League in their next outing. Trevor Kenyon's two-run home run in the third inning erased the early Nebraska lead, and seemingly helped the Iowa champions get their offense back on track: Davenport went on to win the game 7-2, and didn't trail again at the region tournament until the championship game.

"The kids are more relaxed," said Tom Kenyon, Jr. after the win over Blair. "(We've) played really hard to get here, and now they know they can compete here."

Davenport continued to play well, downing their final two pool opponents by a combined 19-4 score, and then edging Daniel Boone National Little League (Columbia, Missouri) 5-4 in the semifinal round. Gibson scattered six hits and did not allow an earned run as Northwest overcame five errors in the semifinal round win. The Iowa pitcher also delivered a key blow at the plate: a three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning that gave Davenport a lead it would never relinquish. Gibson's home run came immediately after Daniel Boone National elected to intentionlly walk Trevor Kenyon, who hit three home runs and drove in eight runs during pool competition.

"He's been given that challenge about three times here," said Tom Kenyon Jr. of Gibson after Missouri elected to walk Trevor Kenyon and pitch to him. "He's finally answered back, and that's big."

Equally big was the effort of leadoff hitter Brody Grothus, who singled twice, doubled, and drove in a run.

The win lifted Davenport into a championship game rematch with Robbinsdale, which handcuffed Harney Little League (Rapid City, South Dakota) 4-0 in the other semifinal round. Ockuly fired a one-hitter and struck out eleven batters against the South Dakota champions.

"He's the top one here," said Rapid City manager Dave Gorsuch of the Minnesota ace. "You don't see kids like that (very often). They come along once in a few thousand."

"He's been very tough for teams to hit," agreed Robbinsdale manager Mark Tranvik.

It's been equally tough for teams to find a way past Iowa's District 2 champions in recent years.

"Everybody knows it's attainable," said Matt Kolar, who managed Davenport East's back-to-back region championship teams and watched the broadcast of Northwest's championship game matchup with Robbinsdale.

"Some of the toughest games we had were in getting out of the district," said Kolar. "Once you did that, you (had) a good shot of getting out of the region.

"I'm sure it gives (the kids) a ton of confidence," he added. "If you're the Duke Blue Devils, you expect to win. You've done that -- and you do it again."

And again and again.

Linescores:

Pool Play Game 1	1	2	3	4	5	6		R	H	E
Robbinsdale (Minnesota)	0	0	2	0	0	0		2	3	1
Davenport Northwest (Iowa)	1	0	0	0	0	0		1	0	1
Pool Play Game 2
Harney (South Dakota)	0	0	3	0	0	1		4	7	1
Blair (Nebraska)	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	4	3
Pool Play Game 3
Galena (Kansas)	1	0	0	1	2			4	9	2
Daniel Boone National (Missouri)	7	0	4	0	4			15	8	0
Pool Play Game 4
Blair (Nebraska)	2	0	0	0	0	0		2	7	1
Davenport Northwest (Iowa)	0	0	2	3	2	x		7	7	2
Pool Play Game 5
Harney (South Dakota)	7	0	2	0	0	0		9	10	0
Daniel Boone National (Missouri)	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	4	3
Pool Play Game 6
Galena (Kansas)	0	0	2	0	1	0		3	6	4
Robbinsdale (Minnesota)	2	1	2	5	0	x		10	8	2
Pool Play Game 7
Davenport Northwest (Iowa)	0	6	0	2	0	3		11	9	1
Harney (South Dakota)	0	0	0	0	0	1		1	2	4
Pool Play Game 8
Blair (Nebraska)	0	0	1	1	2	1		5	4	1
Robbinsdale (Minnesota)	1	0	0	4	1	x		6	8	0
Pool Play Game 9
Galena (Kansas)	4	0	0	0	0	0		4	5	1
Blair (Nebraska)	0	1	0	0	4	x		5	8	1
Pool Play Game 10
Daniel Boone National (Missouri)	0	1	0	0	1	1		3	4	1
Davenport Northwest (Iowa)	4	0	0	4	0	x		8	6	1
Pool Play Game 11
Harney (South Dakota)	1	0	3	7	0	0		11	10	3
Galena (Kansas)	0	0	3	1	2	0		6	6	5
Pool Play Game 12
Daniel Boone National (Missouri)	1	0	1	1	4	1		8	10	2
Robbinsdale (Minnesota)	1	0	0	0	0	0		1	4	1
Semifinal Round
Robbinsdale (Minnesota)	0	4	0	0	0	0		4	4	2
Harney (South Dakota)	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	1	2
Semifinal Round
Daniel Boone National (Missouri)	0	0	0	0	2	2		4	7	0
Davenport Northwest (Iowa)	0	0	3	1	1	x		5	6	5
Championship Game
Robbinsdale (Minnesota)	1	1	0	2	0	0		4	4	2
Davenport Northwest (Iowa)	0	1	0	3	1	x		5	7	2

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