Yorba Hills Little Leaguers Win Last Cheers of Memorable Season

It seemed only fitting for the boys of the Yorba Hills All-Stars baseball team to end their dream season with an all-American parade in their own hometown.

As the team rode down Yorba Linda Boulevard and Casa Loma Avenue on Friday night waving from luxury convertibles, family members, friends and other fans whooped and hollered from the sides, chanting, “Yorba Hills, Yorba Hills!”

About 350 people attended the parade and awards ceremony, which was organized by the city to honor the team that won this year’s Little League Western Regional Championship and went on to play in last month’s Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

Despite the team’s season-ending 3-1 loss to a team from Spring, Tex., in the U.S. Championship game, the boys knew they had plenty to be proud of as they marched on to a stage at the city’s Community Center, wearing team T-shirts and baseball caps.

Yorba Hills All-Stars was one of 7,000 teams worldwide that competed for the Little League championship, and one of just four U.S. teams to make the trip to Williamsport.

“This whole season was pretty amazing,” said 12-year-old Matt Campbell, a pitcher and first baseman for the team. “When we started the season, I didn’t really think we would make it to Williamsport, but then we kept winning. Making it to Williamsport was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

The boys’ proud relatives spent the evening snapping photographs and reminiscing about the season.

“It was really an exciting year,” said Bill Rooney, father of the team’s coach and grandfather of a player. “I coached my son when he played Little League, and it was always a dream to get to Williamsport. These boys deserve all this attention because they play good ball.”

John Robertson, whose 13-year-old son, Nash, hit the winning home run in the Western Regional Championship game, said people throughout the city have been showering his family with attention since the team advanced to the World Series.

Someone posted a sign at the Robertson’s home that said, “Way to smash, Nash.” While the family was buying groceries at a local supermarket, someone announced over the store’s intercom system that Nash Robertson was in the store. And of course, girls have been swooning over the team’s long-haired star.

“He doesn’t like all the attention, because he’s shy,” John Robertson said. “A lot of people point at him when they see him, and girls are sending him cards and letters. Give him about a year and he’ll love all this attention, but right now he doesn’t know how to take it.”

Having gone to every game this season, John Robertson said he couldn’t be happier about the team’s success. But in a way, he’s glad the games are over.

“This is something that I’ll remember forever, but it’s also something I never want to go through again,” he said. “There was so much anxiety and so many nail-biting games. It’s not worth it.”

During the awards ceremony, Yorba Linda Mayor Daniel T. Welch told the crowd that the team won the hearts of people throughout the area and gave the community something to be proud of.

“Many people stayed home from work or took long lunches to watch their new heroes,” he said. “These boys truly created an exciting time for local residents.”

Along with various certificates and plaques, the boys accepted numerous gifts from local businesses including $500 for the team from the Brea Police Department.

After the ceremony, tears came to the eyes of Nash Robertson when he was asked about the highlights of the season. Later, John Robertson explained of his son: “He gets emotional because this is all very meaningful to him.”