The Westport Little League team posed in Williamsport, Pa. in their new New England uniforms. The Westport youngsters participated tonight in the annual Grand Slam Parade through downtown Williamsport, sharing a flatbed truck with team Latin America. The Westport team meets Southeast champs South Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday at 7 p.m. in a Liittle League World Series game to be seen on ESPN2. Contributed photo

The Westport Little League 12-year-old all stars are now officially known as team New England as they prepare for Thursday’s Little League World Series opener against South Nasville, Tenn., now called team Southeast. The Westport youngsters showed off their new uniforms in individual baseball card-like portraits posted on the official Little League World Series website. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

A large banner has gone up on a fence bordering Luciano Park in Westport’s Saugatuck area near the Metro-North Westport station wishing success to the Westport Little League team. The opening game of the Little League World Series is Thursday at 7 p.m. when Westport will face South Nashville, Tenn. in the opening round. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport Public Library today put a baseball-themed exhibit on display to honor the Westport 12-year-old Little League All Stars who Saturday night won the New England Regionals to go on to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. The display, near the MakerSpace, is full of books and movies about baseball. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

By James Lomuscio

Westporters John Shuck and Rick Small had stepped into the Black Duck in Westport’s Saugatuck section tonight for dinner, but dinner could wait as their eyes remained fixed on one of the four television screens showing Westport’s Little League on its way to making history.

Westporter John Shuck (l) was among those at the Black Duck watching Westport’s Little League New England Regional championship victory. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“They’re playing hard, and they look like winners,” said Shuck as he watched the bottom of the third inning with no score.

By the end of the game, fans there and at other gathering places around town cheered loudly as the 12-year-old Little League All Stars bested Lincoln, R.I. 1-0 to win the New England Regionals championship—a first in Westport’s history.

Next stop, the Little League World Series beginning Thursday at Williamsport, Pa. Westport will face Southeast champion South Nashville, Tenn. at 7 p.m.

Patrons at Westport’s Black Duck watch Westport defeat Lincoln, R. I. tonight in the New England Regional Little League championship. It is the first time a team from Westport has made it to Williamsport, but the fourth time in the past six years a Connecticut team has made the Little League World Series. Fairfield did it in 2010 and 2012, and Shelton made the trip in 2008. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Pitcher Chad Knight (27), is mobbed with his catcher Matt Stone (r) after the Westport Little League 12-year-old All Stars won the New England Regionals championship 1-0 tonight in Bristol against Lincoln, R.I. Knight struck out 14 in a one-hitter in which he also drove in the only Westport run. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com

Westport players pile on at the end of tonight’s 1-0 victory over Lincoln, R. I. at Bristol to move on to the Little League World Series. Photo is from ESPN coverage. See video here. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Westport pitcher Chad Knight is mobbed by teammates following the final out in Westport’s 1-0 New England Regional championship win over Lincoln, R.I. The team now moves on to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Photo is from ESPN live coverage. CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo