The Little League World Series might be the Super Bowl of youth sports.
I arrived just before game time Tuesday after driving from Harrisburg after a late flight from Philadelphia to catch Mill Creek’s thrilling 3-2 extra innings victory over Jeffersonville, Ind. that gave it a berth in the U.S. semifinals after a complex tiebreaker.
It was an intense game, but the boys from Mill Creek pulled it out.
Less than 30 hours later, they were at Howard J. Lamade Stadium playing in front of more than 16,000 people and an ESPN audience against Waipahu, Hawaii.
In the end, they fell short but they’ll have something to talk about the rest of their lives.
Yesterday, before he left to do some sightseeing with his parents, catcher Alex Jondal heard Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” being played over the public address system in Volunteer Stadium.
Jondal got a wistful look in his eye recalling that the team sung along when it was played before they got the final three outs in the regional final against Murrayhill of Beaverton, Ore. to earn its trip to Williamsport.
This summer, the Mill Creek All Stars believed and had a season they will never forget.
“We gave it our best,” outfielder Casey Dawes said.
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