Lauren Halpern
•7/1/2026
BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (WINK)—For the first time in Bonita Springs Little League history, the Juniors All-Star team is headed to the Florida State Tournament.
One final out, and history was made. The Bonita Springs Juniors are state-bound.
"We're trying to plant our flag as a legit little league," said Nate Lane, manager of the Juniors Bonita Springs Little League team. "There's a lot of little leagues in the area, and for a long time people rolled their eyes when they'd come play us."
Unlike the teams they'll face, they're not built from travel ball stars. They're built from a neighborhood league and a community that kept showing up.
"It's huge for this league," said Michael Garry, a player on the Juniors Bonita Springs Little League team. "We have been, you know, it's been such a long time since Bonita has ever gone to this, we've been trying to build a better community, and it's just been awesome."
For Lane, this moment belongs to more than just the players. The league has overcome significant challenges to reach this milestone.
"Over the last few years, especially since the last hurricane seasons that we've been dealing with, the league, the fields were shut down for a long time," Lane said. "They, the city's done a great job building back."
A nonprofit league rebuilt and backed by a community that never stopped believing. Player Dylan Twar described the support as "really supportive and just all around, like really good."
The nostalgia runs deep for Lane and the community. "There's a nostalgia to it, but it's like home here," Lane said.
The team will hit the field in Crystal River on July 10.
Registration for the Fall is now open: Bonita Springs Little League
