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Post by itsmyopinion on Aug 11, 2007 11:38:41 GMT -5
Western first Lubbock team in Series
JEFF WALKER
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
WACO - In the last nine months, the Texas Tech football team and Bob Knight have turned in historic moments that brought the spotlight on the Red Raiders. A group of 12-year-olds will now bring the spotlight on the entire city of Lubbock.
Western became the first team from Lubbock to qualify for the Little League World Series on Friday with a 6-0 victory over Roswell, N.M., in the Southwest Regional Tournament at Norcross Stadium.
For some of the Western players, it will be their first plane ride when the team heads to Williamsport, Pa., on Tuesday morning.
For others, the trip will be the longest they've taken.
"This will be my first time on a plane,"
said pitcher Garrett Williams, who recorded three victories in the regional tournament, including the championship game. "I've been to California and Arkansas but we drove both times."
Gregory Hewett first boarded a plane
when he was 9 years old, but he hasn't done much traveling by air since.
Hewett started Western's run on Friday with a double that ignited a four-run outburst in the third inning.
"This is amazing," he said. "It's like a dream come true. This has been our goal for three years."
Bryndan Arredondo has been to Minnesota before but never to Pennsylvania. For most of the regional tournament, he was one of Western's top hitters. He clubbed a two-run home run in the third that capped the scoring Friday.
His father, Gerald, couldn't hold back tears several times when talking about what the team has accomplished.
"I'm proud of these boys," he said. "They're all my sons. This proves that big dreams do come true in little towns like Lubbock, Texas.
"I'm so proud of my son. I'm speechless."
Prior to this year, only two teams from Lubbock had qualified for the Little League regional tournament - the 1968 Lubbock Dixie squad and last year's team from Western. Neither team made it past the semifinals.
"I'm speechless. This is the greatest accomplishment I've ever had," Bryndan Arredondo said. "To be going to the Little League World Series, I'm the happiest person on Earth."
The team has received plenty of support from the community. Many fans traveled to Waco sporting red shirts in support of Western. Pledges and donations are already in motion to help the team and their families with the cost of going to Williamsport.
"We've heard things," Western manager Ed Thorne said. "I don't know exactly what to say about the response from the community. God bless them. We need a rallying point before the start of Texas Tech football, and I think they got their money's worth with this team."
Friday's win should generate as much buzz as when the Tech football team made the biggest comeback in bowl history with its victory over Minnesota in the Insight Bowl, and when Knight became the winningest coach in NCAA Division I men's basketball with his 880th victory.
The Little League World Series begins pool play Friday, but Western won't play its first game until Saturday against the winner of the Midwest Region. The teams will play three games during pool play before the top two teams advance to single-elimination play. Eight teams from the United States and eight international teams qualify for the World Series.
"These kids are like Alexander The Great," Thorne said. "They're ready to conquer the world."www.lubbockonline.com/stories/081107/gen_081107021.shtml |
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Post by catsmeow on Aug 11, 2007 11:40:51 GMT -5
I saw that, IMO! My 12-year-old baseball player is very excited to watch kids so close to home play on TV.
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Post by itsmyopinion on Aug 11, 2007 11:46:05 GMT -5
Their play-off stats....VERY IMPRESSIVE!!
Area
Tournament
Game 1
Western 15
Midwest 0
Game 2
Western 37
Northwest 0
Game 3
Western 9
Southwest 0
Game 4
Western 31
Southwest 0
District
Tournament
Game 1
Western 28
Shallowater 0
Game 2
Western 13
Shallowater 0
Sectional
Tournament
Game 1
Lubbock Western 6
Midland Northern 0
Game 2
Lubbock Western 10
Faben Cotton Valley 0
Game 3
Lubbock Western 32
Pecos 0
Game 4
Lubbock Western 38
Faben Cotton Valley 0
Texas West
STATE
Tournament
Game 1
Lubbock Western 24
Del Mar 0
Game 2
Lubbock Western 21
Wichita Falls 1
Game 3
Lubbock Western 11
McAllister 1
Southwest
Regional
Tournament
Game 1
Lubbock Western (TX West) 6
Tomball (TX East) 0
Game 2
Lubbock Western 10
Grand Junction (Colorado) 0
Game 3
Lubbock Western 14
Lafayette (Louisiana) 6
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Post by catsmeow on Aug 11, 2007 11:51:54 GMT -5
Haven't even looked close ...
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Post by itsmyopinion on Aug 11, 2007 12:11:31 GMT -5
My granddaughter played little league for the second year, this year, first year of pitch instead of tee. She played good, and her team ended up winning first place and a trophy.
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Post by catsmeow on Aug 11, 2007 12:20:51 GMT -5
My son has played since he was 4. Loves it. His team did great this season, too.
It's fun to watch them as they get older and better and more competitive.
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Post by phantom on Aug 11, 2007 16:40:35 GMT -5
This is a wonderful team and they are getting the recognition they deserve! I hope they go all the way!
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Post by itsmyopinion on Aug 18, 2007 15:55:21 GMT -5
First game TODAY @ 5pm on ESPN!!
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Post by itsmyopinion on Aug 18, 2007 18:11:51 GMT -5
Bottom of the 3rd
Lubbock 4
Minn ZIPPO
GREAT GAME SO FAR!!
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Post by itsmyopinion on Aug 18, 2007 19:06:55 GMT -5
FINAL SCORE
SouthWestern Lubbock 6
Minn ZIPPO
WAY TO HUSTLE Y'ALL
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Post by catsmeow on Aug 18, 2007 19:34:53 GMT -5
Hey, IMO ... are they all going to be aired? I want to watch some, too.
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Post by itsmyopinion on Aug 18, 2007 19:44:33 GMT -5
Yep, they play again tomorrow. Its on ESPN I will find out the time and post it here
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Post by itsmyopinion on Aug 18, 2007 19:49:28 GMT -5
Here is the schedule so far
Sunday Aug. 19,
11 a.m.
Chandler, AZ vs. Lubbock, Texas
Tuesday Aug. 21,
3 p.m.
Lubbock, Texas vs. Salisbury, MD
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Post by phantom on Aug 18, 2007 21:45:39 GMT -5
They are doing great! Such great ambassadors for the whole area!
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Post by itsmyopinion on Aug 19, 2007 11:56:29 GMT -5
WOOOOHOOOO Lubbock is playing with BIG BATS today!!
Top of the third
4-ZIPPO
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