A Little League club out of Boulder has the chance to make history for the state. The North Boulder Little League Majors (11/12 year-olds) All-Stars team has the chance to become the first Little League team in Colorado to make it to the Little League World Series. The decisive game will be played Thursday night in Waco and broadcast on ESPN at 5 p.m. MDT.
During the 2015 Little League World Series tournament, the NBLL All-Stars have amassed a 3-1 record, second in their division, to advance to the semifinals. They defeated Oklahoma 9-1 in their first game, beat Texas-West 5-4 in game two, suffered a defeat to the team they will be playing in the championship, Texas-East, 9-1, but rebounded to beat Arkansas 11-9 on Wednesday to secure the championship rematch.
This young group of All-Stars did not suffer defeat throughout the season before their loss to the team from Pearland, Texas who is 3-0 in the tournament, having outscored opponents 32-5. The North Boulder team is looking for an unlikely win, but also to create Colorado history.
The NBLL All-Stars team is already the first Colorado team to play a regional final, so being so close to a World Series berth is truly special. Third-baseman Trevor Moore knows the opportunity presented in front of him and his teammates and is not taking the experience for granted.
“It’s been an amazing experience, being here,” Moore stated via phone to the Daily Camera. “When we wake up, we just kind of relax for most the day and keep our minds off the game to relax and get our composure. We have a great time messing around in our rooms and watching movies.
“It’s kind of like being on a field trip, except that every day you put on a uniform and you get to play on TV representing your state.”
“We feel pretty good,” Moore, who had two home runs Wednesday, told the Camera from Waco. “We have our top two pitchers rested and ready. We know we can compete with them, and they know we can compete with them.”
The North Boulder team knows this is a once in a lifetime opportunity it and are not taking it for granted. Back in Colorado, they have gained a huge fan base and the whole city is behind them in seeing the team create history.
The NBLL parent organization has put together a watch party for the game. Fans can meet at Harpo’s Sports Grill on Arapahoe in Boulder to cheer on the team.
“This is awesome. We’re going to the championship,” said Hudson Bush, 12, whose friend Jimmy Starry pitched Wednesday. “I feel like we have a shot. They’ve got a lot of heart, and I know they’ll give ’em a good game.”