Welcome That’s Right on Base

A crowd of flag-waving boosters, many of them hoarse from yelling, lined the streets of Cypress on Tuesday to cheer their local heroes.

The Cypress Federal Little League all-star baseball team was the center of attention, honored with a parade that featured a band, pep squad and police cars with horns honking. A red firetruck, siren blaring, led a long line of red and black convertibles bearing the players.

“We are really proud,” Mayor Mary Ann Jones told a crowd of 800 gathered near the city’s civic center to honor the championship team.

Congressman Ed Royce was on hand to offer this observation: “These young men did something that precious few who play this game ever do.” To the young players, he said, “No matter what you do, you will never forget the magic summer of 1998. Be proud of your accomplishment--you are champions in life.”

Just one week ago today the all-star team missed advancing to the finals of the Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pa. That heartbreaking loss to a team from Greenville, N.C., was tough for the young players, some of their parents later said.

But the loss did not diminish the warmth of the welcome for the team on its return to Southern California. About 40 parents, other relatives and friends were at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday when the team flew in.

The players chattered about the new friends they had made, the sightseeing they had done.

By Tuesday, their defeat was all but forgotten as local residents and dignitaries hailed the team.

“I would like to tell you that all of Orange County is watching Cypress,” county Supervisor Jim Silva told the cheering crowd. “We all talk about youth sports, but this is a community that has done something about it.”

Cypress Mayor pro tem Tim Keenan agreed. “These are the most famous guys in Cypress,” he said of the team.

The citizenry was beaming with pride too. “It’s great for the city and great for the kids,” said Harry Tubbs, a 30-year Cypress resident and former Little League coach. “They deserve everything they’re receiving--they represented the city well.”

Standing onstage squirming in their jerseys, the young baseball players seemed to be taking all the accolades in stride, unfazed by the detonation of at least one stink bomb in the crowd.

“This is pretty cool,” said Zachary Wesley, 12. “We’re all very proud of ourselves.”

Anthony Rattler Jr. gave what was probably one of the shortest victory speeches on record. “I’m pretty excited,” he said. “I’m pretty speechless.”