The Lamar Little League team is on its way to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to compete in the Little League World Series after winning the Southwest Regional in Waco on Tuesday.
The 12-year-old team defeated Louisiana to earn its spot in the prestigious tournament. KPRC 2 Sports Director Randy McIlvoy was in Sugar Land overnight for the team’s early-morning sendoff, which drew family, friends, and supporters to an H-E-B parking lot around 3:15 a.m.
Head coach Justin Pollard said the achievement has been years in the making.
“This has been a dream of these kids since they’ve been four, five, six, seven years old to make it to this point,” Pollard said. “Money can’t buy this tournament. It has to be earned, and they did it. So I’m proud of them.”
Player Michael Frankie, who plays left field and pitches, said the trip is about both fun and competition.
“I’m really excited to be able to have the opportunity to go to Williamsport and have the experience of just being able to play with all the other countries and states, and regions,” Frankie said. “It’s just going to be really fun… we’ve got to make a name for ourselves.”
The Little League World Series begins next week, and Lamar Little League will represent Texas and the Southwest Region.
In addition to the excitement on the field, Lamar Little League’s trip to the Little League World Series comes with a hefty price tag for families. With just days between winning the Southwest Regional and flying to Pennsylvania, parents have been scrambling to book flights, hotels, and other travel accommodations, costs that can reach $12,000 to $14,000 per family after a summer of tournaments.
To help ease the burden, H-E-B donated $20,000 to the team, and Dick’s Sporting Goods contributed $5,000. The community is also rallying through fundraisers and online donations to ensure families can be in Williamsport to cheer on their players as they represent the entire Southwestern United States on the national stage.
The Little League World Series runs from Aug. 13-24.