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Trudging into the airport terminal Sunday morning, greeted by a few fervent fans, the 14 members of the Thousand Oaks Little League All-Star team had frustration etched on their sunburned faces: Sometimes, sadly, history does not repeat itself.

Sure, the exhausted 14- and 15-year-olds said, it’s nice to come home from the Little League Senior World Series as America’s top team. But it would have been so much nicer, they said, to return from Kissimmee, Fla., as world champs.

Just like two years ago, when many of the same youngsters, then in the 13-year-old division, clobbered an Ohio team to win the Little League Junior World Series in Taylor, Mich.

“Everyone wanted to win it all,” said pitcher Chris Cordiero, 14, a day after the team fell to a team from Maracaibo, Venezuela, in a heartbreaking 4-2 loss. “We were pretty down after the game. But we are the national champions, and we can’t hang our heads.”

While the team was clearly disappointed, the boosters who met their plane at the airport were more upbeat.

“They worked their butts off,” said Sue Willis, grandmother of left fielder Jesse Siebers. “They deserve a lot of credit.”

Few teams ever have the chance to vie for one world championship, let alone two, added pitcher and third baseman Ryan Ayers. “Almost no one else can say that,” the 15-year-old said.

Cathy Frazier, wife of Craig Frazier, one of the team’s two coaches, agreed. “As I told the boys, ‘You have nothing to be ashamed of,’ ” she said, waving a miniature American flag at the team’s homecoming at Los Angeles International Airport.

But that is bittersweet consolation to shortstop Kevin Howard, who had the team’s last at-bat, a fly ball caught by the Venezuelan left fielder with the bases loaded.

“I keep seeing that last pitch again and again,” he said.

Even more distressing, he said, is the firm belief that his team, made up of the best players from Thousand Oaks Little League, could have beaten Venezuela on a better day.

Like half his teammates, Kevin was on the team that won it all in 1994. The 15-year-old slugger is one of many players who gave up other baseball opportunities--including spots on high school and traveling teams--to remain with Little League.

“Ever since we were 13, we wanted to come back and win it again,” Kevin said, explaining that Thousand Oaks Little League is about friendship as much as it is about competition. But Kevin said he has no regrets.

“I’d rather play with a bunch of people I know than be on a traveling team with a bunch of strangers,” he said.

Lugging a duffel bag, he soon broke into an easy grin. “But it was fun,” he said. “The tournament was a lot of fun.”

For their accomplishments, the players will be feted at a September City Council meeting, Mayor Andy Fox said.

“We have really been blessed in this community with a terrific pool of young talent in all athletics,” Fox said. “We’re certainly proud of our Little Leaguers.”

Although the loss signals the end of Little League play for the 15-year-olds, none of the youngsters are about to abandon their budding baseball careers. There’s always high school, college and maybe even the pros, they said, talent scouts willing.

All the players will see another day at the ballpark, predicted first and third baseman Brian Jacobsen.

“I’m kind of happy, actually,” the 15-year-old mused. “I just need a day to relax, and I’ll start playing baseball again.”