Boerne may be a small town, but it has big-time talent on its Little League team
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By CHRIS MASSE
cmasse@sungazette.com
Boerne, Texas is not a big town. In fact, it could be classified as small town, featuring a population of 20,707.
But there sure is nothing little about its Little League Baseball team. It features big-time talent and has achieved something mighty huge this summer.
Boerne captured the Southwest championship and is competing at the Little League World Series for the first time, excelling here and winning its first game, 9-0. This became a historic season when Boerne won the program's first Little League state championship last month, but it has become especially special with every victory since with Boerne again showing sports success goes well beyond population size.
"It is a big victory for a small market," Boerne Little League president Chris Carey said. "It's really cool to see a small market team do this and have the opportunity to play at the Little League World Series."
"It speaks volumes to the effort, dedication and talent the team has and the great job the coaches have done," Boerne mayor Frank Ritchie said. "It just that if you put work into it and play for each other and put your hopes and dream into it that you can make it to the Little League World Series. It's a great tory for not just our community, but Little League communities across 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 throughout the country and carved out a phenomenal legacy.
"Needville is small market as well and it was great watching them reach the U.S. Championship," Carey said. "It's really cool to see small market Little Leagues go out and compete like this and show what they can do."
Boerne has proven it can do a whole lot. En route to securing the first league and regional titles in its history, Boerne entered the Series undefeated and riding a 14-game winning streak. Texas perennially is one of the country's best baseball states, so it is a major statement that in 10 games against Texas opponents, Boerne mercy-ruled each one while advancing to the Southwest Regional.
Once there, Boerne cruised to the final before running into its first significant challenge. Fittingly, it came against New Orleans, featuring a population of more than 600,000. New Orleans led Boerne 3-0 entering the bottom of the fourth inning but these big-time players revealed they have the toughness and character to match their immense talent.
Doc Mogford smashed a go-ahead grand slam, Julian Hurst threw a gem and every player did his part 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 large city defined exactly who it is. It also was the second time Boerne defeated New Orleans after it also beat it in the winner's bracket final.
"For us it was David vs Goliath. To beat Louisiana not once, but twice, says everything about those kids," Ritchie said. "It's the dedication and heart and the coaching staff that drives those kids to be successful in those endeavors."
"New Orleans is a great team and they have a lot of talent as well," Carey said. "Three runs was the most we had scored on us through the whole tournament play. It was good to see we can compete with an organization of this size. These kids are special."
They have proven that all summer, and with every victory, the community has paid more attention. Once Boerne reached the Southwest tournament it basically became the talk of the town. The team drew a strong crowd to the championship in Waco against New Orleans, but any establishment with a TV in Boerne also was packed that night.
This is their team and Boerne could not be prouder.
"The whole community has rallied around them. I don't think a lot of people realized they had gone as far as they did until they advanced deeper into regionals but since then the area has been buzzing and everyone has been watching them on TV," Ritchie said. "This is every kid's dream who plays Little League Baseball. To realize that dream at such a young age is monumental."
Boerne felt like it was facing a monumental challenge in its Series debut against Newtown, Pennsylvania. Not only was it facing an outstanding opponent who entered 18-0, but Boerne also encountered a huge crowd topping 11,000. And most of those fans were cheering for the Series de facto home team, Newtown which is about three hours from South Williamsport.
Instead of that rattling Boerne, it motivated it. And playing a fabulous team game, Boerne again proved that its small-town team can tackle some mighty big obstacles.
That was a really awesome, awesome environment. I wish they were cheering for us but they weren't," Boerne manager Justin Newson said. "Just to be out there on the field with that many fans was probably by far the best baseball experience I've ever been around. It was really, really amazing and unique to be on the field against a really good baseball team, too."
Boerne long ago proved how good it is. And however Boerne finishes at the Series, it will receive a king's welcome when it returns home. Banners already were hanging around town shortly after Boerne captured the regional championship and the team was recognized by both the Kendall County Commissioners and the city council. Ritchie said the team also will be featured in the Kendall County Labor Day Fair.
And that's probably just the start. Long after the games end, this team which has shined such a positive light on Boerne will likely be recognized.
This is a team which relentlessly worked nearly every day in the blistering sun when temperatures soared past 100 degrees. How fitting then that it now can bask in the spotlight it earned.
Whatever the future holds, that light Boerne has created this summer will always connect this team. This group has set a new standard and this small-town team stands mighty tall these days.
"The baseball is great but I hope they soak in everything around it. This is once in a lifetime opportunity," Carey said. "The baseball is great, but I feel like there will always be a bond. It will be a moment they can all reflect on later in life. It's something that solidifies those life-long friendships."