Holbrook Little Leaguers Eager To Just Play Ball

WILLIAMSPORT, PA — It's been nothing short of a whirlwind for the Holbrook Little League team. Since they won the Mid-Atlantic Region title on Saturday evening in Bristol, Connecticut, the team packed up and headed straight to Williamsport.

They've had all kinds of activities since they arrived for the Litte League World Series -- dinners and opportunities to meet players from the other teams and time to practice. But when the team takes the field Thursday for Holbrook's 3 p.m. game against Fairfield, Connecticut, the New England Region champions, it will be five days since their last game.

"They do a really good job of keeping you busy here," Jim Osmond, one of the coaches of the Holbrook Little League team, said Wednesday afternoon as the team played a little cornhole after attending a dinner. "We had two days off in Bristol before the championship game (because their opponent, Maryland, had to play two elimination games) and we felt like that was a big disadvantage for us. The anxiousness was really killing us."

In Williamsport, however, it's been nonstop.

"They did a 3-1/2-hour ESPN photo shoot and interview process," Osmond said. "They are superstars on this stage. There are a bunch of these kids who are like, 'Enough. Let's play baseball.' "

That part is something these kids are used to. The "Boys of Summer," as they're called by family and friends, have not only played and succeeded in tournaments every summer since they were 8-year-olds, they also have added tournament experience from playing on travel teams.

"They've played in probably 30 tournaments," Osmond said. Baseball is baseball. You pitch the ball. You hit the ball. You catch the ball. You throw the ball. But most 12-year-olds don't do that in the glare of the spotlight.

"They're as prepared as they can possibly be," Osmond said.

Before the team headed to Bristol for the Mid-Atlantic Region tournament, Paul Disceglie, manager of the 2014 Toms River Little League team that reached Bristol and felt the glare of media attention because one of its key players was Kayla Roncin, sat down with the Holbrook coaches and shared his experience and advice with them, Osmond said.

"We were very well-prepared for Bristol," he said. "This is so much more than we possibly could have comprehended."

While the kids are used to the idea of playing on television, Osmond said Williamsport is an entirely different situation; it's not just about being on TV.

"I think the atmosphere is something really hard to prepare for," he said. "Playing before 20,000, 30,000 people on an immaculate stage, it's something you can't really prepare for.

So Osmond, team manager Rob Grano, and coach Gene Daddio have tried to keep the one thing normal that they could control: the practices.

"It’s just a matter of trying to go through the same routines," Osmond said. "We reminded the kids, hey, we do things a certain way."

"You have to have that sense of normalcy," he said.

They are aware of the support from back home — support that includes businesses all over Jackson that have put up signs, and support from people all over New Jersey.

There was a good luck message sent from the Vineland 14-and-under softball team that won the Babe Ruth World Series:

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce issued a news release, offering its congratulations on reaching Williamsport.

"Getting to the World Series is a great achievement considering only eight American teams and eight international teams make it that far," said Tom Bracken, president of the chamber, "These all-stars, their coaches and their families deserve the honor based on their dedication, hard work and winning 20 of their 21 games this summer."

"To the team, we'd like to say that we will be watching you on ESPN and cheering for you every step of the way! You have much to be proud of and so does all of New Jersey."

The New Jersey State Police also have shared their support, noting that there are three players who are sons of troopers on the team:

Five years of work reaches its pinnacle Thursday afternoon. Osmond said he hadn't really thought much about the team's success being the culmination of those years.

"I don’t know if I’ve had time to process that yet," he said. "It was definitely an emotional experience (seeing the boys win and earn the trip to Williamsport). I was able to hold back the tears, but I was more focused on wanting to see the kids celebrating it."

"Right now it’s about keeping them focused and enjoying the experience. We want to stay focused on keeping them grounded and making sure it's a great time," Osmond said.

"When these kids go in different directions as they grow older, we want this to be something they remember for a lifetime."

Photo courtesy of Little League Baseball and Softball