SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — His shirt tinged with sweat, Rapid City manager Doug Simons trudged up a hill behind his giddy players sporting a big smile after morning practice.
It was hard to tell who was more excited to be at the Little League World Series.
“It’s bigger than life,” the South Dakota coach said Thursday as he filed past the gates to Volunteer Stadium. “I’ve watched it for years, but it’s even more spectacular than I even thought.”
Wait until Simons takes in the view from the field: The 2008 series begins today as the South Dakotans open the tournament with an afternoon game against Tampa, Fla.
Win the title and they’re bound to be treated like heroes back home. South Dakota, Florida and six other squads are vying to extend the U.S. championship streak. The three straight victories by American teams is the longest streak since an eight-game run between 1959-1966.
Thursday was all about getting ready for the 10-day marathon — from the groundskeepers busily putting the finishing touches on the groomed fields to players taking some cuts in the covered batting cages. Parents mill around with cameras and plastic bags full of souvenirs.
“Thursday is probably the most hectic day of them all,” Little League Baseball president Stephen Keener said during a brief respite between appointments. “The last day before all the excitement.”
The South Dakotans are apparently already energized since the Canyon Lake Little League team from Rapid City is the first squad from the state to advance to South Williams-port.
Their trek through state and regional tournaments and now to the World Series has kept them on the road for three weeks.
“But my dad, he’s left me a lot of messages saying it’s just crazy there,” outfielder Alec Winter said.
Guam’s Brielle Meno will be the first girl to play in the World Series since 2004.
“It was nice,” Meno said when asked about her first impressions of the main Little League facility, Lamade Stadium. “It looked bigger than I thought.”
