Westport’s World Series Little Leaguers were back on ESPN today, not playing baseball but soaking up accolades for their Wiliamsport performance, especially the heart-stopping, come from behind victory over Washington.

The Westport Little League team took a day off from school to appear on ESPN’s SportsCenter. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) ESPN photo

At the invitation of ESPN, the 11 team members took a day off from school to drive to ESPN headquarters in Bristol with manager Tim Rogers. A caravan of five cars driven by parents left from Rogers’ driveway this morning for the scheduled 11:40 a.m. appearance on SportsCenter.

“They could make a movie about the way the Connecticut team came back,” said ESPN anchor Jay Crawford referring to the Aug. 18 9-7 win over Washington as he introduced the team.

Asked about that game, Rogers said: “It was amazing. These kids never wavered, stuck to it and didn’t try to get it back all at once. One base runner at a time. One pitch. One at bat. All the classic clichés, but that’s what they did.

The Westport Little League World Series team headed for Bristol today for an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter. The team is scheduled to appear at 11:40 a.m., according to manager Tim Rogers. Parents and the team members congregated in the Rogers’ driveway before a caravan of five vehicles, driven by parents, departed to Bristol. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport’s Little League World Series superstars pose for a team photo today before heading off to an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The New York Yankees announced today they will honor Westport’s Little League team on Sunday, Sept. 8 before a game against the Red Sox and offered Westporters discount tickets.

To take advantage of the offer, visit http://www.yankees.com/westport and enter the promo code “Westport.”

Westport Little League star Charlie Roof, 13, lets no grass grow under his feet as he transitions from the stellar World Series team to the P.A.L. Fairfield County Football League. A seventh grade student at Coleytown Middle School, Charlie has played fullback since he was in third grade, according to his mother, Karla. She said his first game of the season will be on the weekend following Labor Day. Regarding the Little League World Series experience, Karla Roof said, “It was a good ride but we’re back to reality now.”  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport Little League World Series star Chad Knight, pictured boarding the bus for Bedford Middle School today, had a “regular day” at his first day back to school Tuesday, his mom, Teresa, said today. “He and his teammates had no time between playing baseball all summer and then going to school yesterday—no family vacation or anything like that,” she said. She added, “Chad didn’t say much about his first day back in school He seemed more concerned with just being back in school than about any celebrity attention he might attract. It seemed like a regular day to him. He was with his friends, not strangers.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By James Lomuscio

It was a hometown scene Norman Rockwell only could have hoped for: thousands lining Main Street, some cheering from rooftops, many waving blowup baseball bats and all displaying exuberant appreciation for the the 12- and 13-year-olds who made Westport proud in the Little League World Series.

Fans of all ages, some with homemade signs, lined Westport’s Main Street for the parade. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

The players, now the equivalent of rock stars, yet seemingly as humble as boys can come, entered the history books in the summer of 2013. Together they made their team No.1 in the state, No. 1 in New England, and then, it was off to Williamsport, Pa. where after 10 days of holding the town spellbound, they put Westport on the map as the No. 2 team in the nation and No. 4 in the world.

With the uniformed boys on a float, today’s parade wound from Town Hall on Myrtle Avenue down Main Street, across Post Road East to Jesup Green where First Selectman Gordon Joseloff cheered the boys, as well as the girls’ Little League team which took No. 1 for the state in July.

Joseloff also praised the coaches and the parents, plus Carl McNair, president of Westport Little League Baseball, whom he presented a proclamation declaring Aug. 26 Westport Little League Day.