Northwood Team in Little League World Series : Irvine Fans Rally ‘Round Ball Players

The Northwood Little League team has made it to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., setting off a ripple of excitement among the hometown folks.

John Vanover, manager of Chick’s Sporting Goods in Laguna Hills, has promised the 14 members of the Irvine team emblazoned sweat shirts. “I’m just waiting to see how far they go before we do up the shirts,” he said Monday.

If the team appears on cable television, Bill Brosnan, owner of Northwood Pizza in Irvine, said he will show their games on his shop’s big-screen TV. The players and their families have celebrated there after each of 16 consecutive victories that led them to the World Series.

The Irvine City Council will probably give each player a proclamation at a special ceremony when they return, said Chuck Reid, superintendent of athletic services for the city. “This is great for Irvine and great for the kids. We’re very proud of them,” he said.

Irvine team manager Bob Garcia, in a telephone interview from Williamsport, said: “This is like a dream come true. In fact, it’s just hitting the kids now that they’re on one of the top eight teams in the world.”

The Irvine team arrived in Williamsport late Sunday following their victory Saturday night over a team from Hollister, in Northern California, in the Western Regional final in San Bernardino.

Supporters Flying East

Irvine will be competing in Williamsport against teams from New Hampshire, Tennessee, Indiana, Taiwan, Saudia Arabia, Canada and the Dominican Republic. The series begins today and ends Saturday.

Irvine begins play Wednesday. About 250 family members and friends are expected to fly from Southern California for the game, said Garcia, 42, a banking executive.

Said Vanover, “It’s such a unique thing that a local team has gone that far.” An Orange County team has not played in the Little League World Series since 1968, according to a Little League spokesman.

“We supply most of the teams in this area,” Vanover said, “so I have contact with most of the Little League presidents. Irvine blew everyone away because they were so talented.

“Teams from Mission Viejo and Laguna Hills thought they were going to do pretty good in the play-offs, but Irvine just rode right over them. A lot of guys from the local Little Leagues attended (the Western Regional in San Bernardino) because they were really impressed that an Orange County team had gone that far.”

Brosnan, who has provided discount pizzas to the Irvine team after each of their victories, said: “I think Irvine should give them a welcome-home ceremony because they deserve it.”

‘Really Nice Kids’

Tammy Taylor, a cashier at Northwood Pizza who has served the team and their families, said: “I think it’s really neat that they made it so far. They’re really nice kids.”

For the team’s 14 players, the season began last March with regular play, said Greg Colbert, Irvine’s pitching coach. They originally were members of eight teams and were selected for all-star play in July.

“We did so well because the kids got along extremely well,” said Colbert, 23, an elementary school teacher. “They bonded together, and that showed in their teamwork. And they had great coaching (from Bob Garcia and Bob Jones). “

Irvine’s team includes: Aron Garcia, 12; Ryan Jones, 12; Ryan O’Toole, 11; Tommy Louie, 11; Loc Tran, 12; Steve Habinger, 12; Geoff Ebdon, 12; Erik Silverman, 12; Erik Sobek, 12; Didget Tuttle, 12; Chris Greinke, 12; Chris Curry, 12; Steve Mendoza, 12, and David Lambert, 12.