Cranston to Celebrate World Series Team Monday Night

Residents across Cranston will gather this evening at Garden City Center to recognize the boys of the 2015 New England Little League champs, the Cranston Western Little League team.

The team made all the way to the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania earlier this summer and impressed not just locals with their great play and positive attitudes. The world watched and under intense scrutiny and unbelievable pressure, they carried themselves more professionally and graciously than many millionaire pro athletes.

The celebration, which will be held at the gazebo, is to recognize and congratulate the boys for their efforts and representing all of us so well on a national stage.

“As Mayor, I am proud of the accomplishments and more importantly the sportsmanship displayed by our athletes who played their hearts out in Williamsport,” said Cranston Mayor Allan W. Fung. “They represented our state and our region with aplomb. I invite the community to join us as we honor the boys as well as their dedicated coaches and families.”

The gathering begins at 6 p.m. and the ceremony will include local and state officials along with the players and coaches.

There will be a brief speaking program before the boys are honored with citations.

The boys dropped their first game in the series in a tough 7-1 no-hit loss against a 6-foot, 11-year-old pitcher who was firing off fastballs approaching 80 mph.

They came back to win their second game with a dramatic game-ending double play.

Unfortunately, their World Series dreams faded after losing 10-3 against California in their third game. Though they were bummed, they knew they were playing on hallowed ground and will always be able to say that their team was one of the elite few to even make it that far in 2015.