VALMEYER, Ill. — The village of Valmeyer, Illinois has a population of about 1,200 people. 12-year-old Jace Wuelling is one of those residents, and he happens to have the biggest bragging rights in town.
Jace and his 12U MOCO Tribe teammates were recently playing in a tournament at the home of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. That's where Jace took part in one of the most prestigious youth home run derbies in the country.
“There was 87 teams in the tournament in Cooperstown," Jace said. "I went there and was the last one to hit because of my last name.”
“He was like the third-smallest kid (in the finals). They make 12-year-olds a little differently these days. So we were just excited he made it to the finals. And he had a slow heartbeat in the finals. He was locked in. You could just tell," Jace's dad, John Wuelling said.
Jace locked in by winning the coveted "King of Swat" title, clubbing 7 home runs in 10 swings to take home the derby win.
“For me it was emotional. It was very exciting, very proud. Definitely had some happy tears," Jace's mom, Jordan Abbott, said.
The Cooperstown derby is one of the most prestigious youth derbies in the country. Jace's 7 home runs in 10 swings was even better than future hall of famer Bryce Harper's mark when he was a youngster.
“When we got back to our dorm after it all, my dad told me that it was Bryce Harper’s old record I beat. And then Miguel Cabrera’s son, Chris Cabrera, hit six, too. So I beat all of them. There were a bunch of kids who hit 6 that I beat," Jace said.
There have been other impressive performances at the Cooperstown derby. Joe Mack set the mark with 9 home runs in 10 swings back in 2019, and Texas' Lucas Smith hit 8 in 2022.
“We knew going in that it was a pretty pristine tournament and that there have been a lot of not just future MLB players, but NFL players, NHL players from the United States and all over the world," John said.
Jace plans to compete in another national home run derby event at the home of the Rangers in Arlington this year, and will keep chasing his baseball dreams.
“Play in the big leagues with all the stars right now," Jace said of his baseball goals.
“I tell people all the time that he’s probably the hardest-working 12-year-old I’ve ever met. He hits every single day. He does not take days off. It’s never no or do I have to ask him… He wants it," John said. “As far as he wants to go I think he’s capable of. As long as he keeps working hard, the sky’s the limit.”