WARNER ROBINS -- Tuesday night was a homecoming 14 boys from Warner Robins American Little League won’t soon forget.
Team Manager Phillip Johnson didn’t forget what the whole experience of the Little League Baseball World Series meant for him, as he talked to nearly 200 people who turned out to welcome the team back to the Flint Energies Sports Complex where it all began.
“That journey started here,” said Jimmy Dunn, league president.
Although the team’s run in the World Series ended Aug. 23 when it lost 7-5 to the Mid-Atlantic team from Clinton County, Pa., the experience that took families away from families brought a new one together -- the family that is the community surrounding the baseball team.
“It took everybody,” said coach Buddy Deal.
Maj. Gen. Robert McMahon, commander of the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center, handed out commander coins to each of the boys.
As McMahon went down the line, one of the boys joked they finally found someone taller than 5-foot-11 teammate Jake Fromm.
McMahon expressed his appreciation for the way the team conducted themselves on and off the field by their sportsmanship and the way they poured their hearts into the game they loved.
A handful of community leaders also spoke about how special the boys on the team are. Each team member and coach was given a plaque.
After the speeches were finished, it seemed the boys were back in Williamsport, Pa. They couldn’t walk or talk to someone for a minute without being congratulated or asked for their autograph on a shirt, baseball or even bare skin.
“It feels better than being in Pennsylvania with 30,000 people rooting against you,” Griffin West said of the celebration.
More than 32,000 fans were reported to be at the game against the Mid-Atlantic team from Pennsylvania.
Both teammates Evan Lasseter and Dillon Toms were still dealing with the loss but felt Tuesday’s celebration might have lessened the sting.
“It helps my heart being here,” said Lasseter.
The celebration was also sort of bittersweet because it was one of the last times the team would be together. Some of the boys are going on to play football or basketball. Three are eligible to play in the A-League at Warner Robins American again.
Since July 15 when the all-stars teams were announced, it wasn’t just about the Warner Robins American team.
“This is our team,” said Deal, pointing to the crowd.
To contact writer Angela Woolen, call 923-5650.
