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.”
And as the players left the field, the fans who had been watching the TV screens at the Duck for all the games graciously clapped, and the old cheers of “Let’s Go Westport” were replaced by one closer to their hearts.
“We love Westport!” they chanted and clapped over and over again.
On the outside deck, native Westporter Rennie Zwolinski, shouted that despite the loss, “They’re still heroes.”
Zwolinski had hoped during the fifth inning that the Little Leaguers would rally the same way they did Thursday against Sammamish, Wash., but that come from behind never came.
“They should be extremely happy in that they achieved a life long dream,” said Keith Restivo watching the game at the bar. “They’ve almost reached the pinnacle.”
His sentiments were echoed by Buck Iannocone and Avi Kaner, chairman of the Board of Finance and the Republican candidate for second selectman.
“Hey, they had a terrific run, to come down to the final four out of 7,500 teams,” Iannocone said.
Kaner put it this way.
“According to the numbers, they are the second best team in the United States,” he said, “but in our hearts, they are No. 1, and they’re a Westport legend.
“If you look around, everyone in Westport is living the dream over and over again, and no one can ever really express the gratitude we have for the team,” he added.
On Monday, the town will show its gratitude with a parade on Main Street and a ceremony hosted by First Selectman Gordon Joseloff on Jesup Green.
Meanwhile, the home team will square of against Mexico Sunday in a consolation game for third place in the Little League World Series.
