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Live on TV, Little Leaguers hit it big in Valley
SEE ALSO: Poland battles in 1-0 loss.
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Jenna Schetter Poland heads back to the dugout after striking out in the second inning of Tuesday’s game against Warner Robins, Ga., at the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Ore.
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Pitcher Aleah Hughes of Poland delivers a pitch in the second inning of Tuesday’s Little League World Series semifi nal game against Warner Robins, Ga., in Portland, Ore. Hughes allowed just three hits in the game, but Poland suff ered a 1-0 loss.
By Elise Franco
BOARDMAN
It’s not every day that a group of small-town girls gets to play world championship-level softball on a nationally televised network.
The 2010 Little League Softball World Series is being played in Portland, Ore. The age 11-12 girls’ Poland Community Little League team beat Canada’s team — Layritz Little League of Victoria, B.C. — on Monday, advancing to Tuesday’s semifinal against defending champion Warner Robins, Ga.
The game, broadcast live on ESPN2, brought friends, family and community supporters out by the dozens to watch. About 50 people decked out in Poland’s blue-and-white colors gathered at Youngstown Sports Grille in Boardman for the live broadcast.
Lisa Svetlak, whose daughter Kristyn is a member of the team, said she’s been overwhelmed with the team’s success.
“It’s unbelievable that we’re getting to watch their dreams come true,” she said. “You can just feel the excitement growing.”
Svetlak said much of the community has been following the team throughout its world-series run through Facebook and the Internet, but Tuesday gave them a chance to see the girls live in action.
“Friends and family from all over are so excited that they can watch,” she said.
Bill Orr, vice president of the Poland Community Baseball League, said no matter the game’s outcome, he was excited to watch the girls on ESPN.
“It’s phenomenal,” he said. “I don’t think any local baseball or softball team has gone this far, so we’re here watching and cheering them on.”
Orr said the league is thinking of some way to honor the team once it returns home.
“We feel like we have to do something to recognize their achievement,” he said.
Taylor Klase, 13, said she’s friends with several of the girls on the team and thought the nationally televised game was a “cool thing to happen.”
“It’s really cool,” she said. “I go to a lot of their games. The team is really good.”
Marilyn Johnson, a former first-grade teacher for many of the girls, said she is glad to show her support by watching the game on TV.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing for them and for the community to experience,” she said.
Johnson said she hopes the girls didn’t realize right away how big of a deal it was to play on ESPN.
“I would like for them to sit back when they’re older and think, ‘Wow,’” she said.