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| Updated: 8/13/2012 9:45 pm |
Published: 8/13/2012 7:18 pm |
BRYANT, AR - Bryant 13-year-old Babe Ruth All Stars are on their way to Seattle to compete in the World Series.
The team took off from the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport Monday evening. The team won their district, state, and regional tournaments, and now hopes to take a big swing at winning the World Series.
They say the key to playing so well together is most of the players have been practicing as a group since they were 6 and 7 years old. Garrett Misenheimer says he's excited about the trip. "It's a big deal to get to go to Seattle to play."
One run away from advancing to the World Series last year, several team players have never even been on an airplane before. Logan Allen says that's part of the adventure he's looking forward to most. "I flew when I was 5, so I don't really remember the experience."
Alex Shurtleff says he's not nervous, just excited all their hard work and effort is paying off. "I won't be nervous until I touch that field."
Bishop Park is the field the team calls home almost everyday since the season started in March. Many of the players grew up together, helping create a sense of teamwork from a very young age. Alex Shurtleff is new to the team. "This is my first year. The others have been here since they were 7."
Many parents like Rusty Misenheimer are traveling with the team to cheer them on. He says it's been a long road sacrificing and supporting the boys to get to this level. "They have shown time and time again how much heart they do have. At this point, win or lose, it's a great accomplishment, but we're hoping for a win."
Assistant Coach Rick Brown says winning the World Series would be a great reward for the team. "These guys have worked hard and they deserve this opportunity."
The team plays their first game against the host team Wednesday night. They're hoping to continue on to the next round, which means missing a few days of school next week, but the boys say they don't mind.
Head Coach and Manager Jerry East says he's really nervous, and says he won't be able to calm down until they get to Washington and get settled in so they can focus on the game.
