Seacoast bashers are pride of N.H.
BRISTOL, CONN. -- Williamsport, Pa., home of the Little League World Series, is baseball's version of Never-Never Land, and the Portsmouth Little League all-stars and manager Mark McCauley aren't ready to grow up this summer.
``I'm 41 years old, and this to me just has been the most enjoyable experience," said McCauley after Portsmouth defeated Glastonbury (Conn.) American Little League, 3-0, Sunday at Leon J. Breen Field to win the New England Regional tournament and advance to the Little League World Series.
It's not over yet.
Portsmouth opens play in the World Series tomorrow at 4 p.m. against Northwest champion Murrayhill Little League of Beaverton, Ore. For Jordan Bean , Keegan Taylor , Matthew Feeney , Conor Trefethen , Connor McCauley, Billy Hartmann , Stephen Hemming , Mark Pearson , Sheldon Button , Cam Cundy , Andrew Haslam , John Graham , and Pierce Gendron , an improbable journey that started in Portsmouth during the cold, rainy days of April will end in August on the ethereal fields of Williamsport.
``All the people that we've seen here helping us [in Bristol] have told us this is nothing compared to Williamsport," said Bean, Portsmouth's ace pitcher, who will take the mound tomorrow. ``It's baseball heaven almost."
Portsmouth will be just the fourth team from the Granite State to play in the Little League World Series in the 60-year history of the tournament. The little sluggers from the Seacoast join Dover North (1987), Bedford (1993), and Goffstown (2000). They are, as a sign at the New England Regional championship game said, the pride of New Hampshire.
``I think, like every team that comes here after winning their states, you're not really sure how good you are because you're not sure how good your state is," said McCauley. ``I felt like we had a good team. We dominated pretty much throughout the states and when we came down here, we felt like we belonged, and then we started to really play well, and it just worked out."
Portsmouth went 10-0 on its way to the New Hampshire District 2 and state titles, winning eight games by the 10-run mercy rule and outscoring its opponents, 134-8. Bean threw three no-hitters.
At the New England Regional, the team rode the hot arm of Bean and the booming bat of Taylor. Bean was electric from the get-go. He struck out 18 in the team's opening game, a 1-0 victory over Colchester, Vt., recording every out of the game via strikeout (Little League games are only six innings). He fanned 14 in a 7-4 win over Lincoln, R.I., and whiffed 13 while twirling a three-hit shutout in the championship game against Glastonbury.
Taylor went 3 for 3 and drove in all three runs in the New England final. He finished the regional tournament 6 for 10 with 3 home runs and 8 runs batted in, but those totals don't include the home run that was wiped out by Portsmouth's bizarre 6-0 forfeit victory over Vermont in the semifinals.
Portsmouth Little League, which draws its players from Portsmouth, Greenland, and Newington, had come close to going to Williamsport before. In 2002, Portsmouth lost in the New England semifinals, and in 2004 it lost to Lincoln, R.I., 3-0, in the regional final. McCauley actually called in the 2002 and 2004 teams to speak to the current all-stars about the road to the Little League World Series.
This year's Portsmouth team almost suffered the same fate as its predecessors. In the New England Regional semifinals, Portsmouth actually lost to Colchester, Vt., 9-8, but was awarded a forfeit victory because the Vermont team did not send one of its players up to bat. In the Little League tournament, all players must play three outs in the field and get one at-bat. The situation was reminiscent of what happened to Peabody West in the Massachusetts state title game, right down to intentional wild pitches thrown by Colchester in an attempt to tie the game and send it to the bottom of the sixth so its remaining player could bat.
McCauley filed a protest after the game, which overturned the result, giving Portsmouth a 6-0 forfeit win and a second chance to earn a berth to the Little League World Series.
Portsmouth made the most of its reprieve.
``It's amazing to be able to represent such a big area and we were able to do it and I'm proud of my team," said Taylor.
McCauley didn't want to put pressure on his players, but it was clear he thinks his team can advance beyond pool play and into the US semifinals. The schedule is favorable for Portsmouth, as it will allow Bean to pitch the opener tomorrow, then come back and pitch the third and final game of pool play on Monday. The top two teams from each four-team pool -- there are two international groupings and two US groupings -- advance to single-elimination play.
``We've got confidence," said McCauley. ``We're going to go down there and we're going to give it everything we have. . . . We think we can be competitive, but until we get down there we're not sure. But I do know one thing. When we get down there, it will be all business again. It will be all baseball and we'll have a great time doing it."
But whether they come home World Series champions or not, McCauley said, his team is full of MVPs -- most valuable people.
``These guys are great baseball players, but they're even greater kids. Yes, we won and I'm thrilled, but what we have here is 13 of the best kids you'll ever meet, and for me it's just been the most unbelievable and enjoyable ride you could ever imagine."
