RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette correspondent: Cooper Hastings of Texas crosses home base during a Little League World Series game against Pennsylvania last week.
By CHRIS MASSE
Boerne, Texas is not a big city. In fact, with 20,707 residents, it could be called a small town.
But the Little League Baseball team is anything but small. It has big talent and accomplished something big this summer.
Boerne won the Southwest championship and is making its first appearance in the Little League World Series, where it performed exceptionally well, winning its first game 9-0. This season was historic when Boerne won the program’s first Little League state championship last month, but with each win since then it has become more special as Boerne has once again shown that athletic success goes far beyond population size.
“This is a big win for a small market,” Said Chris Carey, president of the Boerne Little League. “It’s really cool to see a small team do this and have the opportunity to play in the Little League World Series.”
“This speaks volumes about the commitment, dedication and talent of the team and the great work of the coaches,” Said Boerne Mayor Frank Ritchie. “If you put in the effort, play for each other and put your hopes and dreams into the Little League World Series, you can make it to the Little League World Series. This is a great story, not only for our community, but for Little League communities around the world.”
Boerne is picking up where Needville, Texas, left off last year. Another small Texas town, Needville reached the U.S. Championship after winning a state title in 2021. Like Needville, Boerne has carried the torch for small towns across the country and left a phenomenal legacy.
“Needville is also a small market and it was great to see them reach the US Championship,” Carey said. “It’s really cool to see Little Leagues from small markets compete like this and show what they can do.”
Boerne has proven that it can do a lot. Boerne entered the series undefeated and on a 14-game winning streak en route to the first league and regional title in its history. Texas has always been one of the best baseball states in the country, so it is a big statement that Boerne won every single game in 10 games against opponents from Texas and advanced to the Southwest Regional.
Once there, Boerne made it to the finals with ease before facing its first big challenge. Fittingly, it faced New Orleans, which has a population of over 600,000. New Orleans led Boerne 3-0 until the end of the fourth inning, but these big players showed they have the toughness and character to match their immense talent.
Doc Mogford hit a grand slam to take the lead, Julian Hurst threw a brilliant point and every player did their best as Boerne rallied and won 6-3. The blowout wins were impressive, but the way Boerne won this game against a league from such a big city defined exactly who they are. It was also the second time Boerne beat New Orleans, having also beaten them in the winners’ bracket final.
“For us, it was David versus Goliath. To beat Louisiana not once, but twice, says everything about these guys,” Ritchie said. “It’s the dedication, the heart and the coaching staff that drive these kids to succeed in these endeavors.”
“New Orleans is a great team and they have a lot of talent,” Carey said. “Three runs was the most we scored in the entire tournament. It was nice to see that we could compete with an organization of this size. These kids are special.”
They proved that all summer, and with each win, the community paid more attention. When Boerne reached the Southwest Tournament, it was basically the talk of the town. The team drew a huge crowd for the championship game in Waco against New Orleans, but every bar with a TV in Boerne was packed that night.
This is her team and Boerne couldn’t be prouder.
“The whole community rallied around them. I think a lot of people didn’t realize they had made it that far until they advanced further into regionals, but since then the area has been buzzing and everyone has seen them on TV.” Ritchie said. “This is the dream of every kid who plays Little League baseball. To realize that dream at such a young age is monumental.”
Boerne felt like it faced a monumental challenge in its series debut against Newtown, Pennsylvania. Not only was it an outstanding opponent that entered the contest 18-0, but Boerne faced a massive crowd of over 11,000. And most of those fans were cheering for the de facto home team of the series, Newtown, which is about three hours away from South Williamsport.
Instead of unsettling Boerne, it motivated him. And with a fabulous team game, Boerne proved once again that his small-town team can overcome some mighty big obstacles.
It was a really great, great atmosphere. I wish they would have cheered us on, but they didn’t.“, said Boerne manager Justin Newson. “Just being out there on the field with that many fans was probably by far the best baseball experience I’ve ever had. It was really, really amazing and unique to be on the field against a really good baseball team as well.”
Boerne proved how good it is long ago. And no matter how Boerne does in the series, it will be welcomed like royalty when it returns home. Shortly after Boerne won the regional championship, banners were already hanging around town and the team was recognized by both the Kendall County Commissioners and the City Council. Ritchie said the team will also be represented at the Kendall County Labor Day Fair.
And that’s probably just the beginning. This team that Boerne put in the spotlight in such a positive way will likely be honored long after the games are over.
This team has worked tirelessly in the scorching sun almost every day in temperatures of over 38 degrees. How fitting that they can now enjoy the spotlight they deserve.
Whatever the future holds, the light Boerne created this summer will always connect this team. This group set a new standard and this small town team is big today.
“Baseball is great, but I hope they absorb everything that comes with it. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Carey said. “Baseball is great, but I feel like there will always be a connection. It will be a moment that they can all look back on later in life. It’s something that cements these lifelong friendships.”
