Former Pearland Little League coach travels to New York to watch Astros

NEW YORK – The Yankees walked out with a win on Tuesday, but there were plenty of Astros fans to witness an exciting American League Championship Series Game 4.

They included a Houston-area former coach who knows a thing or two about a World Series run.

"Yankee Stadium is a beautiful place to watch the game," Mike Orlando said. "It was a great six and a half innings. And I'm sure we'll get it done tomorrow."

Orlando, of Pearland, is a former Little League coach. In 2010, he helped lead the Pearland White team of 11- to 13-year-olds to the championship in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

For Orlando, the Little League World Series seems s if it was yesterday, and the memories are vivid.

"Just the way I watched my boys come together as teammates, and the way they built their faith in each other, their faith in God and their faith in team," he said. "And believing in baseball and watching them get up there with confidence."

As a championship coach, Orlando likes what he sees in this Astros team.

"The team is very exciting," he said. "Every day, somebody else is going to step up. You never know who it's going to be. And it just seems like a blast in that clubhouse."

When the Astros made it to the ALCS, the former coach couldn't pass up the chance to fly to New York and watch the team.

And what would he say if Astros manager A.J. Hinch needs some advice?

"I doubt that will happen, but he's done a fabulous job," Orlando said with a laugh. "But if I could give him pointers, I'd say, 'Keep doing what you're doing, coach,' because he knows the right triggers to pull."

Orlando's son and nephew were on the Little League championship team in 2010.

He coached a few more years after the Little League World Series win and retired after all the boys on the team made it to high school.

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