The Aftermath

There were a few tears shed, a few blank stares, and a few faint -

if not forced, smiles on the faces of the 12 Ocean View Little League

Majors Division All-Star players late last Thursday night, but the one

thing there was plenty of in the aftermath of the heartbreaking 3-2 loss

to Hazel Dell Little League of Vancouver, Wash. in the championship game

of the 2000 Western Regional, was praise.

It came from all directions as a group of family, friends, and

well-wishers formed an impromptu arc, as if to surround their wounded,

shield them from what had happened, just a few feet away.

“We love you guys,” shouted one man from the rear of the crowd.

Another well-wisher, who said only that he was from the San Bernardino

area, had this to say: “I just wanted to come out here and lend my

support. These guys just lost a real tough game and had a dream denied. I

enjoyed watching them play, and I want them to know that.”

The team gathered in an open field, just beyond the outfield fence,

just outside the lights of Al Houghton Stadium, and just out of sight and

sound of the celebrating Hazel Dell entourage. They gathered to collect

their thoughts, and deal with a dream that, indeed, was thisclose, to

coming to fruition.

“I told them that they gave me the experience of a lifetime,” said

Ocean View Manager Yun Conger, himself well-composed as he address the

team. Conger also solicited a few smiles from his players and in return,

received a few hugs.

“When we look back at this, we will all feel proud of what we

accomplished,” he said. “Win or lose, it has just been a great

experience. Of course, though, we would have liked to have won, and gone

on to Williamsport.”

The championship game was an odd one, as five of the six runs were

unearned.

“You never know how it’s going to turn out. You can only hope for the

best,” Hazel Dell Manager Tom Peavey said. “The bottom line is that I

want the Ocean View people to know what a great team and coaches they

have. We beat an excellent team. This (game) had two good, quality teams

going head-to-head, but only one could come out on top.

“I’m numb from winning this game, and I can only imagine how they’re

feeling out there,” Peavey added, as he pointed toward the Ocean View

group gathered beyond center field.

They were feeling bittersweet, as the accolades and salutations

continued to flow, all in an effort to comfort a group of 12-year-olds

(and one 11-year-old) feeling the sharp sting of missing the Little

League World Series by just one game.

“I couldn’t be more proud of a group of kids than I am of this one,”

said Ocean View Coach Brian Carr as he addressed his team. “You should

hold your heads high, because you are winners. What you accomplished is

tremendous.”

Ocean View has the distinction of becoming the first area Little

League team (Seaview, Robinwood, Huntington Valley, Fountain Valley,

among that grouping) to reach the Western Region final.

The team played 19 postseason games and finished with a 17-2 mark,

which included win streaks of 10 and seven games. They outscored their

five Western Regional rivals, 35-6. They also trailed only once in the

tournament, and that was in the final against Hazel Dell.

“What this team did was phenomenal,” Conger said. “Each and every one

of these kids contributed to our success, and I thank them for that. They

really gave Huntington Beach quite a ride.”

As the Ocean View postgame get together began to dismember, the

players grabbed their gear, shared handshakes and hugs, then headed home

for good.

No Williamsport, only thoughts of what might have been.

“You can think things out all you want, but it won’t change the

outcome,” Conger concluded. “What these kids need to do when they get

home is dwell on all the good times and fun they had with one another.

Yes, we would have liked to make it to Williamsport, but how many teams

even get this far? They’ve had a tremendous season, and nobody will ever

be able to take away the memory of that.”

NOTES:

*David Jacobs carried the California state flag and led the Ocean View

All-Stars onto the field during Closing Day Ceremonies held for the 14

teams prior to the start of the championship game.

*The second place trophy, presented to Ocean View following the game,

stands taller than Jacobs, Ocean View’s shortest player.

*Larry Smith, a local resident, volunteered his time for the past two

weeks in San Bernardino. Smith worked effortlessly to keep the media

booth running smoothly.

*Hank Conger, who led Ocean View in hitting during the tournament, was

walked in his three at-bats in the championship game. He ended the season

with a league record 33 home runs.

*Eleven of the 12 Ocean View All-Stars are 12-year-olds. The lone

11-year-old is backup catcher, Scott Melchert.