Little Leaguers all pumped up for World Series

Their incredible month-long journey started at Harry Ball Field in Beverly, with an 11-0 win over Manchester-Essex in the second round of the District 15 tournament.

Tomorrow night at 8, with the ESPN cameras rolling, manager Dave Batchelor’s unbeaten 17-0 crew will take on McAllister Park American LL of San Antonio in the first round of the World Series. Peabody is one of eight regional champions from across the country. There are another eight teams in the international field.

But have the Peabody kids really touched the ground since Matt Hosman’s walkoff, regional-clinching grand slam on Saturday afternoon against Lincoln, R.I., in the New England Regional championship game?

The entire collection of players, coaches, and family members realize that this is like nothing they’ve ever seen.

Back home on Lowell Street, a quarter-mile away from the intersection of Route 1 and close to the Engine No. 7 fire station, local police have put up an electronic traffic sign wishing the locals well: “Congrats on regionals; good luck in Williamsport.’’

On the five-hour bus trip from Bristol, Conn., to Williamsport, Batchelor counted 95 congratulatory text messages and another 30 or so voice mails since Hosman, his leadoff man, belted the winning slam in an 11-7 victory.

A few of the messages were from friends and family. Countless others were sent from numbers that he didn’t recognize.

Some saw Hosman’s grand slam live. Others watched it over and over on ESPN’s “SportsCenter.’’

“I’m almost full,’’ Batchelor said with a laugh. “I don’t even know who they are. Some I recognize, because they’re family and close friends, but I’ve got a friend absolutely screaming at the top of his lungs - I don’t know who it is - ‘You did it! You got it done!’ and I don’t even know who it was.’’

Needless to say, Hosman’s shot was heard loudly around this working-class city north of Boston, and it’s another high note for a place that takes great pride in its local baseball scene. A parade was thrown in the team’s honor before its trip to Connecticut for the regional.

“I’ve got to tell you, this city is getting very, very excited,’’ said Mayor Michael Bonfanti earlier this week. Bonfanti said he felt the buzz stirring last Sunday night during a summer concert on the common.

“They were really pepped up,’’ said Bonfanti, who grew up friendly with Hosman’s grandfather, Tom. “They were very pleased. There was a lot of buzzing about Peabody’s advancement, the particulars of the game, Matt’s home run.’’

Offensively, Hosman’s shot completed one of the most explosive streaks in program history. The first four batters of the lineup - Hosman, Austin Batchelor, Traverse Briana, and Michael Petrosino - averaged .570 for the regional. As a team, Peabody amassed 15 home runs for the tournament and outscored the opposition 66-28.

Hosman and Batchelor have been the two mainstays in the rotation throughout, and have played a heavy hand in Western’s run to the World Series - as evidenced by the mere three earned runs allowed over the first eight games.

But with an 85-pitch limit and short rest time at the regional level, Western relied on an array of starters to pull them through, including Michael Petrosino and A.J. DiFillipo.

“We had no problem at all, once we established what everyone’s roles were on the team,’’ Batchelor said. “We know what we have going in; everyone knows what their job is.’’

The closer is one of the team’s fan favorites, 4-foot-6 lefty Matt Correale, who earned the nickname “The Rat’’ as a toddler and has worn it proudly since.

Correale preceded Hosman’s towering shot with what was perhaps the most important defensive play of the afternoon.

In the top of the sixth, Lincoln, R.I., had just pushed in the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly, for a 7-6 lead with one out. Correale then brought the heat from the mound, only to see a ball come shooting back at his chest.

Instinctively, he snagged it and quickly threw to second base for an inning-ending double play, sparking repeated chants of “Rat!’’ from the stands.

Asked about his thoughts on the play, Correale bluntly responded, “Throw the ball to second base,’’ drawing laughter from the handful of reporters and players on hand.

Said Dave Batchelor: “He’s come in at some crucial times where you’ve got to shut the door. It’s very difficult to get through a game with 85 pitches. Rat might be small in size, but he’s somebody we can count on.’’

In his team’s perfect run through the District 15, Section 4, state, and regional tournaments, Batchelor learned he can count on every player.

Now, the Peabody Western team is on the world’s biggest stage for Little League baseball. And these kids are savoring every moment.

Brendan Hall can be reached at bhall59@hotmail.com.