Roadrunner Little League All-Stars make history as they head to regionals
No matter what happens next, Roadrunner Little League already owns a little slice of history.
Facing a 3-0 deficit against perennial powerhouse Carlsbad in the deciding game of the state baseball tournament in the Majors division, Roadrunner staged an improbable, two-out, five-run rally in the sixth inning to advance to this week鈥檚 regionals in Waco, Texas. Perhaps even more impressive was the fact that Roadrunner faced an uphill battle in the bracket after losing to Carlsbad earlier in the tournament.
鈥淚 was very, very happy. And I didn鈥檛 really believe that we could do it, because we were down two games and Carlsbad had these really tall kids,鈥� said Roadrunner first baseman Harry Brunton 鈥� 鈥� When we finally beat them, I couldn鈥檛 handle all the emotions. I didn鈥檛 think we were gonna do it. And we鈥檙e the first team to go to Waco.鈥�
Ah yes, the first. That鈥檚 where the history part comes into play. On July 19, Roadrunner became the first team in the league鈥檚 nearly 60-year existence to win a Little League Baseball Division State Championship.
Usually, it鈥檚 Carlsbad and sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Eastdale representing the Land of Enchantment. Roadrunner was more than happy to play the role of upstart, but according to manager Joe Garcia, this coronation was a few years in the making.
鈥淚 think we鈥檝e been kind of working toward this for three years,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he vast majority of this team has been playing together for a good amount of time. Great league, great bunch of kids. I think we all had our sights set on Waco the whole time.鈥�
The next leg of the journey will begin in South Texas against the Louisiana representative. The game will be televised on Thursday at 3 p.m. on the Longhorn Network, which is available on the ESPN App via subscription through an affiliated video service provider. Other teams in the field represent Texas (East and West), Mississippi, Colorado, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
If Roadrunner can win its bracket, it advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Pretty heady stuff for a group of (mostly) 11- and 12-year-olds.
鈥淚鈥檓 really excited because it鈥檚 gonna be a better challenge, and I鈥檓 just really excited to go to Waco,鈥� said third baseman Tyriano Martinez-Cordova.
Nerves could be a factor for a group that is new to the scene, but ultimately, the hope is the butterflies will fade as the game gets underway.
鈥淚鈥檝e talked to some friends that have been to Waco and have played last year,鈥� Brunton said. 鈥淎nd they said it is a little bit nerve-racking, but once you just get into the game, you get into the baseball and you kind of stop worrying.鈥�
Garcia touts overall lineup depth as a strength for Roadrunner, but perhaps more importantly, the team has demonstrated the chemistry necessary for success.
鈥淥ur personalities (make the team special),鈥� said second baseman Brycen Rogillio. 鈥淪ome people are quiet, and some people are very talkative. It鈥檚 a good mix.鈥�
As far as actual preparation, there鈥檚 not much to be done in terms of scouting. Garcia says he will review some footage of Roadrunner opponents through the GameChanger app, which features live streaming and scorekeeping. But that can only go so far.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 get a whole lot of it,鈥� Garcia said. 鈥淲hen you get to this point, everybody鈥檚 a good team. It鈥檚 who can hit the ball and throw a bunch of strikes. Who wants it the most? With this group, honestly, I like my chances.鈥�
Regardless of what the week holds, Roadrunner Little League has already accomplished the unprecedented. Everything else is just a bonus.
鈥淩oadrunner鈥檚 been here for, like, 60 years,鈥� Rogillio said. 鈥淚t just feels like you made really big history.鈥�
