Maybe the most-used phrase during the Little League World Series is "once in a lifetime."
Most parents usually can watch their kids play in South Williamsport just once so the phrase often fits.
Just not with the Morrow or Scarborough families of San Antonio, Texas.
Three years after Zachary Morrow and Tanner Scar- borough helped lead the McAllister Park American Little League to the Little League World Series U.S. championship, both families are back again. This time it is Seth Morrow and Jack Scarborough doing the playing. Turns out this dream had a sequel.
"This wasn't even a blip on the radar screen (after 2009)," said Mike Morrow, Seth's dad and a San Antonio coach. "Being able to watch your kids and have your younger son, who looks up to his older brothers, and to have (Seth) have that goal in his mind and have his team work toward it and achieve it is unbelievable."
"It's absolutely crazy. It's great," said Neil Scarborough, Jack's father. "To have Tanner do it and have Jack be there and see all that and then have your younger brother trying to emulate his older brother and it actually coming true is amazing. It's great for both of them to experience it on the field instead of observing it."
Other brother tandems have played at the Series in different years but it is rare. Reaching South Williamsport was a rare experience for San Antonio, too, before 2009. McAllister Park American's all-stars be-came the first team from San Antonio to reach the Series that year and now it has happened again.
Just like in 2009, Scarborough and Morrow are a big reason why. Morrow is a talented outfielder who provides pop in the middle of a strong lineup, while Scarborough also is a strong outfielder who hit .375 at the Southwest Regional tournament. Scarborough also made a brilliant sliding catch in the Southwest championship.
Together, they have helped their team win every game but one this summer despite competing in one of the country's toughest states and regions. Together they have reached rare air.
"It is unreal for their parents to be able to go watch their sons in the Little League World Series twice in three years. That's special," San Antonio manager Jack Wideman said. "They (Morrow and Scarborough) are focused players and just like all 13 kids on the team they're determined to play hard and they love playing."
So do Zachary and Tanner.
Both have continued excelling since their Series experience and both are playing high school baseball now. When the all-star season started two months ago, both players told their younger brothers they would not be able to match their accomplishments.
As the wins started piling up, though, something changed. The older brothers quickly became their younger brothers' biggest fans. Suddenly, Zachary and Tanner wanted their brothers to reach the Series as much as they once had.
Both were there 10 nights ago when San Antonio crushed Lufkin, Texas, 9-0, and earned a Series berth. The older brothers who have provided a continuous source of motivation since their younger brothers want to top them all the time were proud to welcome a new member to an exclusive club.
What once seemed impossible had become reality. And now, forever, those brothers will share a special bond.
"There's that brotherly love that starts where they're saying, 'you guys aren't going to be able to do it,' but then as they get closer that little sarcasm turns into incredible support," Mike Morrow said. "We had it at the regional final because we had Zach and Tanner both there, so out in the right field bleachers it looked like big brotherville."
"Tanner is reliving it. He's telling Jack what bunk to get, why to get a certain bunk, what to expect as far as food, things like that," Neil Scarborough said. "He's being a typical big brother and enjoying every minute of this."
The parents are too, despite some of the headaches involved. Reaching the Series often is a dream, but it also is hectic and expensive. Both families had less than a week to prepare for extended trips to Waco, Texas, and South Williamsport. That leaves little time to take care of every-day tasks that need completed.
It also means big traveling bills, putting gas, airfare and expensive extended hotel stays into the equation. Throw food into the mix and the experience can be a daunting one.
Not that either family sees it that way. All the Morrows and Scarboroughs have to do is look at the smiles on their kids' faces and they know it all is worthwhile. They know that whatever it takes, they always will gladly do it.
They know how rare this is. Instead of worrying, they are reveling. So are Zachary and Tanner because they suddenly are 12 again.
"When we knew we were going to the Series we never thought for once about not going on the trip," Neil said. "We said, 'let's figure it out and let's go. We told all the parents you have to find a way to go. It's expensive, but you can't miss it.
"There's nothing like it."
