Dick Rogers (r), father of Westport Little League team manager Tim Rogers and grandfather of player Drew Rogers, stands with Jeff Marlowe, grandfather of teammate Alex Reiner, before the start of today’s game in Williamsport, Pa. against Sammamish, Wash. for the right to advance to the U.S. Little League World Series final Saturday against Chula Vista, Calif. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com

Charlie Roof waits under the Lamade Stadium for the rest of his Westport Little League team before entering the dugout today before the eliminattion game against Sammamish, Wash. in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa . (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com

Tonight’s Westport Little League World Series contest against Sammamish, Wash in an elimination game has been postponed until Friday at 3 p.m. because of rain.

By James Lomuscio

For Westport fans, winning hasn’t been everything. It’s been the only thing—until tonight.

Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff (l) and Avi Kaner, chairman of the Board of Finance and Republican selectman candidate, were among those at the Black Duck tonight cheering on Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

This was the night of the full moon, the night that the undefeated Westport Little League all stars, the New England team, lost the third Little League World Series game 6 to 3 to Chula Vista, Calif. after a nail biter that went into three extra innings.

The game ended with three outs for Westport in the bottom of the ninth. And with the last out, the hundreds who had gathered at the Black Duck left sobered by their home team’s first defeat.

It was a game that most had hoped would be sewn up at the top of the sixth with a 3 to 2 lead. But a homer followed by errant pitches that loaded the bases in what was to be the final inning gave Chula Vista a three-run lead from which Westport never recovered.

Westport Little League team walks off the field tonight in Williamsport, Pa. after suffering the first loss of their season, a hard fought 6-3 by Chula Vista, Calif. that went nine innings. Westport next plays Washington Thursday in the double elimination tournament.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com

Christopher Drbal (l) puts his arm around fellow Westport teammate Tatin Llamas tonight following Westport’s 6-3 loss to Chula Vista, Calif. in the Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pa. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com

Teammates celebrate with Matt Brown after he hit a pinch-hit, three-run home run in the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead in tonight’s semifinal contest against Chula Vista, Calif. in the Little League World Series semifinal at Williamsport, Pa. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com

Scenes from tonight’s heartbreaker loss by Westport to Chula Vista, Calif. in a hard fought 6-3 game. Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com

Fans of Westport’s Charlie Roof showed their stuff tonight as Westport took on Chula Vista, Calif. in the Little League World Series semifinal at Williamsport, Pa.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Keith Stein for WestportNow.com