ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — Some Rowan County girls will have quite the story to tell when they head back to school Monday.
They came home this weekend as World Series champions in little league softball, and the community made sure the team knew how proud they are of the big accomplishment.
On a field where they are usually getting sweaty and a little dirty playing a game of softball, 13 girls were treated like queens Saturday, and hailed as heroes.
The Rowan County little league softball team was welcomed home from Oregon with a party after a parade Saturday morning.
“Just right now, I'm just mind blown,” said one player.
“We thought a couple of people were coming,” a teammate said. “Yeah, no, there was a lot.”
On Wednesday the team of 11- and 12-year-old girls clinched the title of Little League World Series champions by beating Rhode Island 4-2.
“It was the best thing in the world. We play as a team and not just as one,” another girl said.
The team beat out squads from British Columbia, The Philippines and from other states -- all victories that would be easy to boast about, but coach Rob Hales said the girls always stayed grounded, shining just as much off the field as on it.
For their kindness and sportsmanship, the group of girls made friends with every other team.
“We seemed to be one of the favorite teams no matter where we went,” Hales said.
They’re setting their sights on even bigger titles and more wins, but not without forgetting this moment for the team and Rowan County.
“I want everyone to make sure that they remember this moment for a very long time,” Hales said.
WSOC
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/LH3JSJEF3VBLRJLJQESEAG34AM.png)
