GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn.- For the first time since 1987, a Tennessee
team is headed to the Little League World Series. Goodlettsville's 12-year-old
All Stars were already the state champions. On Friday, they beat a tough team
from Georgia to secure the Southeast Regional Championship.
That 1-0 win means they're now headed to Williamsport, Pennsylvania and the
Little League World Series.
"This group here is a special group. I had a lot of them when
they were 11, so to them now as 12-year-olds, doing what they're doing, it's
been a great experience so far," said Eric Sutley, who coached the team
when they were a bit younger.
He was one of dozens of fans who packed Buffalo Wild Wings in
Hendersonville on Friday to watch the game on ESPN and cheer on their team.
"This is probably one of the biggest things that's happened in
Goodlettsville in many years," said 14-year-old Keaton Allison, who has
several friends on the team. "If they win, I guarantee most of us
will be jumping up and down on the table."
When the team scored in the second inning, the crowd was ecstatic.
"They're the first ever to do this in our park, so we're here to
support them," said 12-year-old Joel Littlepage.
They all know that making it this far is quite a feat, especially
considering this is only Goodlettsville's second year of Little League play.
The team held their 1-0 lead the entire game against Georgia, and a sixth
inning strike-out secured the Southeast Regional Championship.
"I really think they can do it, they have a great chance of winning it
all this year," said Deshay Biggerstaff, who serves on the board of
directors for Goodlettsville Little League.
The Little League World Series begins August 16th in Williamsport.
Organizers for Goodlettsville Little
League say plans are already underway, to get several bus-loads of fans to
Pennsylvania to cheer on their team.
