Little League Brings Irvine 2nd U.S. Title This Month

Win or lose in the finals this weekend, the Irvine Northwood Little League all-stars established themselves Thursday as the best Little League team in the United States. But the accolades must be shared.

True, there has been excitement in Orange County over the easy march Irvine has made through the 41st annual Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. The team’s 8-1 victory in the semifinals Thursday left it just one game away from claiming the world championship against either the Taiwanese or the Dominican Republic team Saturday.

But the Northwood Little Leaguers are not the only elite team in town. With little publicity or fanfare earlier this month, the North Irvine Bobby Sox Minors won the national softball championship for 11- and 12-year-old girls.

Two national champions in the same backyard.

The girls’ team beat Hawaii in the national tournament in Buena Park, the traditional home of the series. It was the second consecutive year the team had captured the championship.

“What Williamsport is to Little League, Buena Park is to girls’ softball,” said Tawnee White, president of the North Irvine Bobby Sox Softball League.

Despite the lack of publicity for her national champions, White was overjoyed Thursday after the team from the Northwood area of Irvine whipped Chesterfield, Ind., 8-1, to gain a spot in Saturday’s Little League finals.

“A lot of us are following the boys’ team,” White said. “They are the same age group as our girls’ team. And I think it is just wonderful.”

Within the next couple of weeks, Irvine will honor both of its national champions, said Chuck Reid, community services superintendent for the city. The girls’ team, having also won last year, is accustomed to the proclamations and receptions the City Council traditionally uses to celebrate its champions.

Reid said just about every city office in Irvine had a TV or radio tuned to the game Thursday.

“We were all following the game. What they have done is just great,” he said.

Reid said that since Little League officials and parents of the 14 all-stars are in Williamsport, no official plans for a celebration have been formed.

He said that any celebration would definitely include both the girls’ and boys’ teams, but: “We’ll wait until they get back home and get settled down before we plan something. We’ll check with the parents and find an appropriate time to honor them. We want to make sure that we get everyone we can involved in the celebration.”

Irvine Mayor Larry Agran, a former Little Leaguer whose teams never made it to the World Series, didn’t learn about the Northwood victory until late in the day.

“I’m delighted and very happy for the youngsters involved,” he said. “I think it’s a thrill for them, as well as their parents and the community.

“As a former League Leaguer, I can remember how exciting it was to think about going back to Williamsport and competing in the World Series.”