World Series Is a Hit With O.C. Little Leaguers

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. —  John Robertson can only hope winning the Little League World Series title is easier than getting there.

Robertson, whose son, Nash, hit a two-run homer Friday to put the Yorba Hills Little League team into the World Series, was one of several Yorba Linda parents who withstood a flight from Los Angeles to Philadelphia, then miles of one-lane traffic Sunday only to arrive here too late for the opening ceremonies.

“We didn’t realize . . . what it would take to get here,” said Robertson, who worried along the way that “we just didn’t know if anyone would be here to cheer for the team.”

The full contingent of parents and fans are expected to be there in force at 5 p.m. today when Yorba Hills plays Little Lakes West of Arden Hills, Minn., the first step toward Saturday’s nationally televised title game. No Orange County Little League team has won the Little League World Series title.

Yorba Hills parents had been warned that getting here from Orange County would not be easy.

“But we made our reservations as a group 10 days ago and we were at the mercy of our schedule,” said Marv Shappi, father of pitcher A.J. Shappi.

About 30 people flew from Los Angeles to Philadelphia after Friday’s victory put Yorba Hills in the series. Some remained in Philadelphia overnight, and will drive here today. But most rented cars to drive 181 miles to reach the Little League complex, where the players will remain throughout the week.

Some parents stopped at a motel in Danville, Pa., an hour southeast of here, to rest. The remaining travelers arrived just as cars were leaving the stadium after the opening ceremonies had ended.

“It was a very long day,” said Robert Nesbitt, who drove with his wife, Laura, to see their son, Robert. “We had already made the arrangements and we couldn’t change.”

Barbara Campbell, mother of team member Matt Campbell, was one of the lucky ones. She arrived at the stadium about 10 minutes ahead of other Yorba Linda parents and ran in just in time to see the team being introduced.

“We were driving so fast to get here,” she said.

As for the players, they have had little time to savor Friday’s 4-2 victory over Petaluma Valley in the Western Regional final in San Bernardino. They were awakened at 4:30 a.m. Saturday and whisked to the airport for an all-day, cross-country airplane trip.

Once in Williamsport, they were fitted for uniforms, given physical exams and warned to stay in International Grove, part of the 42-acre complex where players are housed for most of their stay.

They couldn’t wait, however, for a view of the field they’ve worked all season to play on. The Yorba Hills coaches escorted the players, dressed in their pajamas, to the outskirts of Lamade Stadium on Saturday night for a quick look at the field.

“I never thought I’d be here,” Adam Benner said. “It’s kind of cool.”

Even the coaches seem awed by the surroundings.

“To believe we are here, with all those great teams from Southern California that we beat. And we’re the only ones left. Wow,” Coach Bill Rooney said.

Little League official Dennis Sullivan is used to hearing such comments from newcomers to Williamsport, a town of 31,000 people, whose population will swell to nearly three times that number during World Series week.

“You expect that kind of reaction out of the kids,” Sullivan said. “But it’s something when you see that kind of look on an adult’s face, the kind of look you only expect to see the kids have. But it happens.”

Yorba Hills’ remaining competition, of course, is the world’s best at this level. More than 7,000 teams from around the world competed for a chance here.

Teams from Canada, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia will play each other in a round-robin format in the international bracket, which also begins today. Yorba Hills, Arden Hills, Spring, Tex., and Toms River, N.J., play in the American bracket.

The champions of each bracket meet at 1 p.m. Saturday for the World Series title, with more than 30,000 fans expected.

Sunday, the Yorba Hills players spent the hottest part of the day practicing on a field just below Lamade Stadium. Some of the youngsters leaned against the flexible center field fence and yawned while coach Rooney pitched batting practice.

Sunday night, after the opening ceremonies, most of the parents located their sons and some managed quick visits before the 9 p.m. curfew.

For the parents, the adventure was beginning to sink in.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Marv Shappi said. “It’s nice that we made it.”