Thursday, 4:30 PM
Walpole wallows as Little Leaguers fall in World Series
(John Tlumacki/Globe Staff)
Adam Nelson, 9, put his hands on his head in disbelief today as he watched on a big-screen television in the town recreation center as Walpole lost in the Little League World Series.
By Javier C. Hernandez, Globe Correspondent
WALPOLE -- There was little joy at the town recreation department today among the 100 nervous fans watching on a large projector screen as Walpole lost in a do-or-die game in the Little League World Series.
Walpole fell to a team from Warner Robins, Ga., 8-1.
"I really don't feel so good about this," said Nathaniel Kelley, 8, walking away from a television screen as Walpole gave up a run.
And he didn’t feel much better as the Georgia team won, 8-1, ending an extraordinary run for the boys from Walpole. With the victory, Warner Robins moves on to the US semifinal of the Little League World Series. Walpole is heading home.
"They lost the game but they won the hearts of everyone in the town," said Ed Damish who has lived in Walpole since 1950. "All the kids in this town will grow up dreaming about their victory."
The game had been originally scheduled for Monday but was postponed by rain. On Tuesday, the teams played two innings and Walpole fell behind 2-0 before the rain came again.
They picked up the game today at 11 a.m. Watching at the recreation department in Walpole, 6-year-old Ethan Kelley offered a classic New England response to his home team's tribulations.
"If they don't make it all the way there is always next year," he said.
Kelley's big brother Nathaniel added: "Sometimes kids don't get enough respect around Walpole. They deserve it. They're going to be famous. They should get agents."
