Workers in a bucket truck erect a sign above the Levitt Pavilion temporary stage on Jesup Green today in preparation for the celebration at 5 p.m. of the Westport Little League championships. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Workers prepared the stage on Jesup Green today for the 5 p.m. Main Street parade and Jesup Green ceremony to celebrate the Westport Little League championships. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport Little Leaguers had time for one more group photo at the Black Duck in Westport after their return from South Williamsport, Pa. tonight before finally heading home. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Westport Little Leaguer Chad Knight is all smiles with his dad, Craig, tonight at the Black Duck in Saugatuck after the team’s return from South Williamsport, Pa. “I’m really happy to be home,” Chad said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff gives a fist pump to Westport Little Leaguers tonight after he welcomed them back to Westport at the Black Duck in Saugatuck where they dined after getting off the bus from South Williamsport, Pa. Exhausted but happy, they said they looked forward to the Main Street parade in their honor at 5 p.m. on Monday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Westport Little Leaguers headed to the Black Duck in Westport’s Saugatuck section tonight for dinner following their return from the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

With a Westport police escort for the last couple of exits on I-95, Westport’s Little League team returned home tonight from South Williamsport, Pa. to be greeted by family and friends. The excited team members, coaches, and parents got off in front of the Minute Men Cleaners lot at 600 Riverside Ave. and then headed across the street to the Black Duck for dinner. The team, along with the Little League girls 10-11 softball team will be honored with a Main Street parade Monday at 5 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Keith Stein for WestportNow.com

Scenes from today’s Little League World Series consolation game which Westport lost to Mexico 15-14. The game was marked by a Westport trademark comeback effort in which they scored eight runs in two innings to tie at 13-13. Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com

UPDATE Westport came from behind with a five-run fifth inning and three in the sixth but could not prevail today as Mexico won the Little League World Series consolation game 15-14 at South Williamsport, Pa. Chad Knight had two home runs.

Westport will welcome home the Little Leaguers with a Monday parade on Main Street at 5 p.m. with a ceremony to follow on Jesup Green. Also to be honored are the 10-11 girls softball team which won the state championship.

In today’s game, Knight had two home runs and drove in seven runs, Harry Azadian had a three-run homer, and Matt Brown and Matt Stone had solo shots for Westport, which lost 12-1 to Chula Vista, Calif., in the U.S. title game on Saturday.

Mexico’s World Series run ended with a 3-2 loss to Japan for the international title on Saturday.

By James Lomuscio

Wiith Westport’s Little League’s last chance at bat in the bottom of the sixth—and trailing Chula Vista, Calif. 12 to 1—the fans who had gathered at the Black Duck today admitted it would take a miracle for their team to rally. And with two consecutive outs and the two strikes, that miracle seemed more and more elusive.

At the end of the game at the Black Duck, glum faces turned into a chanting of “We love Westport.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

A couple of people left, admitting they couldn’t bear to see their beloved home team lose.

But with the final out, it really wasn’t a loss.

“They’ve done something great,” waitress Sheila Patrick said about the Westport 12-year-olds taking the New England title and advancing to the nationals in the Little League World series. “They’re going to be rock stars when they get back to school.”