GREENVILLE, N.C. — Shortly after Liliana Delgado’s game-winning hit exited her bat and landed in centerfield on July 25 in San Bernardino, Calif., the Mill Creek Little League softball All-Star team and families realized they had just a few days to figure out how to get to the East Coast.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Mill Creek manager Courtney Brown said. “It’s been crazy. Just catching your breath from that last game.”
Mill Creek, winners of its district and state tournaments, took another step last week when the team claimed the Western Regional tournament with Delgado’s walk-off single in extra innings. That presented Creek with two major challenges. Getting ready to fly from Washington to North Carolina five days after the win in California was the first.
The team got back to Mill Creek on July 26. On Monday, they learned the team’s flight would depart at around 5 a.m. Wednesday. A couple of players remained in California to participate with their select softball teams in the PGF Nationals in Huntington Beach, California, and were to arrive in Greenville on Friday. The rest of the team practiced locally on Monday and Tuesday.
“I feel like that was the hardest part,” Brown said. “Now we can just take it all in.”
While flight and lodging are provided the players and coaches, parents wanting to see their girls play in what Brown described as “a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” had to make the quick turnaround on their own. Many had to talk to bosses once again about another unexpected week away from work while contending with high airline ticket costs that come with buying tickets a day or two before flying.
“There’s been some financial strain, but we’ve had some community support,” Brown said. “That’s helped the girls a lot.”
Donations to support additional team expenses can be made HERE.
Brown took a peek at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park after arriving in Greenville and was impressed. He said everything has been first class at the event, which features eight U.S. regional champions along with four world regions: Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe-Africa and Latin America.
“It’s the nicest field these field that these girls will play on,” Brown said.
The next major challenge will be an even higher level of competition in a portion of the bracket that includes the Southeast, Southwest, New England, Mid-Atlantic and West region champs. It all starts at 7 a.m. Sunday, when Mill Creek opens the tournament against Southeast champion Lake Mary (Florida) at 7 a.m. The game will be shown on ESPN+.
“I just want to see them compete the best they can,” Brown said. “We got a tough draw. Florida is no joke — that team is for real.”
After a long flight and a 250-mile bus ride, Creek enjoyed some festivities put on by Little League during the first couple of days while working in some light practices. The opening ceremonies will be held Saturday before the team attempts to get a good night’s sleep prior to Sunday morning’s game.
Brown said he just wants the team to enjoy the experience and represent the community the best it can.
“We’ve had a lot of support from the community,” Brown said. “Not just (Mill Creek) Little League folks, or even past Little League folks, but everyone from the community feels like they have a pretty good idea of what’s going on and how exciting it is for the girls. The outpour of support has been huge for these girls.”
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