WATCH LIVE | Lake Mary Little League: It's Our Summer

and now Pennsylvania it's been quite the ride for the Lake Mary Allstars center field and every ride has its ups oh he leaps and he is just over the glove and gone and it's Downs got to go back to the lab and fix that right cuz we're going to see him again I've been lucky to be a part of it tell me the rules don't make B there you go that's the Only Rule don't make me look bad and so has the community with Central Florida and the entire State rallying behind them these 12 boys face their biggest challenge yet the title of US Champions no one does what we do no one is prepared and no one is ready for us when we [Applause] come thank you so much for joining us coming to you live from Williamsport Pennsylvania for a special edition of News 6 Lake Mary little league it's our summer I'm Justin warmouth we're so glad you could be with us on a pretty spectacular night here in Williamsport Pennsylvania where in less than 24 hours our boys from Lake Mary will take on the team from Bernie Texas for a chance to win the US championship of the Little League World Series anticipation is building out here I'm excited I'm also nervous let's take a look at how we got to this point it has been quite the ride here in Williamsport Pennsylvania our boys had a first round matchup against South Dakota that game was a nailbiter but we pulled it out 2 to one then it was on to Washington little bit of an easier game one that one six to one and then came our biggest adversity to date a loss to the team from Bernie Texas who are we are matched up with tomorrow afternoon we lost that game 4 to one but then we had to come out of the elimination bracket taking on New York getting the W there 6 to1 then it was Hawaii 4 to3 and that set the stage for last night and the Lake Mary little Leaguers will play for a US Championship on Saturday they win at 63 over Nevada a great win for our boys their fourth game in four days their third win in a row and it was a spectac performance Lake Mary jumped on Nevada early scored four runs in the top of the first inning but then Nevada came roaring back scoring three runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning Lake Mary hit two home runs have some Stellar pitching down the stretch to secure the win and clinch their birth in the championship game coach you're going to the US championship of the Little League World Series how's that feel amazing man this is what we were here to do this is what we wanted to do we said all along the job's not done we are we are where we want to be we just need to finish the job really good and it was a great experience to pitch in front of all these people and it just it just really made me like super happy and excited I've been telling you about Taj I've been telling you Taj Alex Ander what a performance he has been one of the most likable guys from you at home everyone in the community loves cuddles he he threw 3.2 innings in relief struck out five Nevada hitters it was his first time pitching in the Little League World Series and a really interesting note his grandma is also here his grandmother is blind and she has been at every game Taj said in that press conference that he talks to her before every game he plays she prays over him and saraj said that that gives him the confidence to do what he does a great story and it's just one of so many wonderful Stories We Have Heard here in Williamsport Pennsylvania all right as we mentioned this now sets the stage for Texas tomorrow at Lon Stadium at 3:30 so yes they did beat Lake Mary 4 to1 that was a big part thanks to Julian Hurst their starting pitcher he was dominant he threw a lot of strikes 72% of the pitches he threw against us were strikes Lake Mar Lake Mary did score in the first inning but we really couldn't get much going after that uh the boys though they've been looking forward to this this is what they've been waiting for throughout this entire elimination bracket another shot at Texas and they are looking forward to the rematch are you guys looking forward to playing Texas again yes it's time for Revenge it's time for Revenge Tage yeah coach I I just wanted them to speak because I knew how they' answer but yeah we want Texas again and it's going to be like to me it's going to be like Nolensville last year I we're coming right at you man and it's win or take all there is no double limb now we're coming so we know uh excitement and a little bit of trash talk is happening on the field but we're going to have some trash talk off the field and joining me now is our colleague from kat2 and San Antonio Mary ringer Mary great to see you you just got here last night right uh we have a friendly wager that we've been putting on social media so if our boys win Kat's going to donate $1,000 to Lake Mary and if Bernie wins new6 is going to donate $1,000 to Bernie Little League where's your confidence going into this game you know I was going to ask you the same thing because like you just broke down Bernie won our first match up four to one so I'm feeling nothing but confidence for this team um coming out of Texas mainly because of the rest that they've had throughout this tournament they haven't had to play those extra couple of games so Texas is looking calm cool and collected you were at practice this morning that's that was the vibe yes I was okay all right so listen yeah you could there this is really the the tale of two teams the rest you played three Bernie has played three games Lake Mary has played six Lake Mary's played four games in four days today's an off day they're enjoying it the boys are enjoying it I I kind of like the momentum that this elimination bracket has given Lake Mary um did has the coach said anything about that or did they have they talked about the matchup between Lake Mary they mentioned specifically and by the way I know I gained a lot of haters right off the bat by explaining my confidence so apologies to everyone for that it's all in good fun it's Little League Baseball we just love baseball but um when I was out at uh their practice this morning the main point of emphasis from the coaching staff was they're going to play every game like it's their last so they're not looking ahead to Sunday as far as their pitching decision goes so what you see tomorrow will be everything that they have in order to just try to win the game tell us about Bernie Texas I know it's a a suburb is of San Antonio yeah they love their baseball but this is unprecedented territory right it is unprecedented territory Texas of course just like Florida is wellestablished As baseball States but Bernie uh doesn't have that same reputation it's a town of about 20,000 it's growing fast yes I mean Bernie there's um a a lot of Beauty in that City and I know even some Spurs players live over there it's a it's a desirable desirable place to live um but as far as the community goes I mean it's been unbelievable to see how not only Bernie the surrounding areas San Antonio and Beyond I mean Texas is huge and they're all rooting for this Bernie team um I got to spend time uh in Bernie's last game when they played Nevada I was at at one of the middle schools that half of the kids go to and to see their classmates and their friends root them on watching them on ESPN when they're supposed to be learning about science it was a memory I'll never forget it's I think there's some similarities between Lake Mary and Bernie Texas both you know around the same population size both very desirable to live I'm so looking forward to this match up Mary it's great to meet you and thank you so much for being a part of this uh wonderful production that we're putting on tonight for our boys for Lake Mary so thank you for the insight you all right and uh good luck but really not tomorrow all right all right so listen we're going to have so much more we really have been talking about how this team from Lake Mary has bonded they truly are a family we're going to have much more on that coming up also you know being here in Williamsport pencilvania for going on 11 days now we're going to be here for at least two weeks you you need haircuts you need beard trims and we're GNA have a special uh story that we did with one of the boys' dads who's also a barber that's also coming up and then the celebration win or lose that the City of Lake Mary is planning for our boys we're going to have details on that straight ahead we'll be right back e e e e welcome back to a special edition of News 6 Lake Mary little league it's our summer and boy has this been the summer to remember for our boys from Lake Mary they have been such a special team throughout this entire run here to the Little League World Series where tomorrow they're going to take on the team from Bernie Texas right here behind me at L Stadium the iconic L Stadium this team if you if you haven't had a chance to hear our interviews or watch them play take a look at these boys they are a special group of kids they are so nice so well spoken and by the way they can play some baseball this entire summer experience it hasn't been just this two weeks in Williamsport it has been the entire summer they have bonded they have faced adversity they have shown grit they have shown fight they have leaned on each other through it all and you talk to some of the parents like the parents of Garrett Rosen and that is setting up a bond that they're going to have for life when you think about what this is like for him and what this is like for the boys like how do you put it into words um it's hard uh he's kind of shy very quiet I made a few words as you've learned um I think he enjoyed and I think he really likes it and it means a lot to him it means a lot to all of the boys and I think doing it together cuz they really are they've all said it they're Brothers now um they're in it together and it's just I think that even if we don't I mean we're going to win don't get me wrong but if we don't win they've already won like it's amazing what they've already done doesn't matter I agree wholeheartedly that whatever happens tomorrow win or lose that it's going to be a summer to remember for a lifetime you get to play the Little League World Series you don't forget that you absolutely do not forget that and to be able to be a part of this a small part of this has meant the world to me oh gosh okay has meant the world to me and um I'm really thankful to be here and I think uh the boys and the parents are also thankful that we're here as well you talk about how you've been with them and you feel like you're a part of it and you really are I mean it's it's hard for you to be able to shine it on yourself but you you all have been a very big part of it and you are the vehicle that adds another another level to this whole experience you've done great man awesome that means means a heck of a lot you've had the energy you you've had the excitement and you've uh You' really you really put that extra umph into this whole thing all right we're going to turn the page because uh we got to get through this show um you know a really special moment happened in the second game of the Little League World Series JJ Feliciano hit a home run to dead center field and that was his first home run here at the Little League Ro series his mom who had to miss the first game she was back home watching on TV she made it in time to see that home run a such such a special moment that I had to go and go get it my photographer Daniel Macaluso said oh the the security guard left field has it so I went and grabbed it gave it to Mom gave her a high five and um she was super thankful this is what she said before the game was that your first time time seeing him yes yeah I know how was that oh I I'm holding back the tear I don't want to cry but I'm super excited you know I we have a thing that I tell him lock in he doesn't need that from me but um I just I tell him how much I love him and how much his family is cheering from him back home I mean the Fate to be here and to be a part of being inside the stadium to see your son hit a home run at the Little League World Series it's hard not to be romantic about baseball am I right um you know what's also interesting as I mentioned we've been here for quite some time we've been here throughout the the entire trip here in Williamsport and when you're here for 11 days and you have dead clippers because I didn't charge them before I left you kind of get overgrown it's not bad today and that's because one of the dads of a player on the team DJ M say his dad Victor is a barber and he said I Wasing talking to him about it and he goes listen I got you I have my clippers I'll take care of you I'll take care of Daniel and so we went over to his Airbnb uh in a nice part of Williamsport so he could take care of us man I'd look like Grizzly Adams if not for you I know man I come through the DJ's home run from the other night how much I mean what was it like to see that to see it it it's it's surreal you have when you have the moment the crowd the intensity the moment you know it's it's perfect and he was he was going through a little slump you know and I told him hey keep swinging it tell us about DJ though like what what's he like not in this environment oh you know actually I want to I want to show you something that one of one of the dads from his team sent him DJ is an outstanding ball player but more than that this young man has a great heart he's an 11year old gentle giant he deserves all the attention he's getting because he's an outstanding little human being and I know this is a direct result from his parents support the love they give him they have taught DJ what it means to be an outstanding person in this role today that that's what I tell DJ all the time like man you know just keep being yourself like be yourself be who you are and keep smiling man this team is so special yes the way they care for each other you can tell the road is not going to be easy mhm but as long as they keep that mentality and they keep that that composure I'm sure we're going to go far the boys are seem to be unfazed by the pressure the parents though boy I mean when it gets I know how I feel and I I don't have a boy playing on this team you know last night especially against Hawaii is it painful it's everything yeah it's all the emotions huh yeah because it's like you you know what should happen but it's like wow thousands of people mhm it's it's you know it's they're growing up that's the only way I can put it they're growing up right in front of our eyes clean you up a little bit we're Gucci look like a different guy do look like a different guy I mean when you go that long without shaving your beard yeah you're going to look like a different guy that's absolutely true so I mean that just shows you how special the boys are but it's because they have such wonderful parents and every single one of these boys their parents are just like them and it really that's what this has been that's my takeaway is that yes these are wonderful young men who have Bright Futures but at the same time their parents there's a reason that they are so good at what they do and they're so well spoken and nice to me and to Daniel and to everyone they've signed a million autographs here and they've just been soaking it all up and enjoying the moment and I know that so many people back home have been loving watching them on TV they are a lot of fun aren't they and I know the community is looking forward to seeing them when they get back home and they do have a special celebration the City of Lake Mary is planning uh for when they do get back home and it's going to be in downtown Lake Mary cat silver talked to the mayor of Lake Mary about what that's going to mean my first term 23 years ago of popa's team did the same kind of accomplishment that Lake Mary is experiencing they had a Citywide parade I will never forget it and Lake Mary is going to have a parade for these incredible young boys their families the coaches we'll have the boys being led by professional Mascots from the magic and others as well as the Lake Mary high band some Bag Pipers Honor Guard so that's going to be August 31st at 10 a.m. if the boys think they celebrities here just wait till they get back home and by the way go back to school which is going to be a lot of fun Hey listen something else that's been a lot of fun I've been sliding down the hill here at L Stadium uh throughout every wind and uh every time I do it they win we're going to have a a little Montage of that coming up e e e e welcome back to Williamsport Pennsylvania I'm Justin mouth and thank you for staying with us for this special edition of News 6 Lake Mary little league it is our summer this is an iconic Place Lam Stadium here in Williamsport Pennsylvania the birthplace of Little League Baseball it is Iconic there are so many things to do here that all surround baseball and all surround these kids and making this experience what it is a once- in-a-lifetime experience and I'll tell you what one of those experiences is going down the hill here at Lam Stadium I'll tell you it's it's kind of intimidating I will say I had the courage to do it for game one and you're about to see that things sort of have taken shape in a different way take a look I regret this I've given it a few shots I'm so sweaty and I got two buddies though they're going to guide me through it this is Christian come on Christian come in here Christian Anderson and Colin Anderson their brother is the shortstop their dad is the head coach of the southeast the Little League team from Lake Mary so they're going to help me out they've already given me some tips but I this is a mistake but here we go ready boys I also have a bunch of other friends here that are going to help me guide through this really bad idea but all right let's let's give it a a shot ready all right let me strap this in three 2 one I'm alive I'm alive so we made a little bit of a mistake the last game we had this tradition where Justin was coming down the famous Hill there at L field he didn't do it last time concerning we're going to fix this tonight aren't we oh boy we are Matt and uh you might have to permanently fill in for Justin mouth at 6:30 depending on the outcome of uh this second attempt all right hey all right here we go oh my gosh ready okay three two one come on come on get some momentum J oh there's a tumble Cas oh turn four down look at the red shirt wow it's chaos how is everyone good everyone's good okay now you got how did I do good this you know what this is the most important thing right here you're going to do it he's changed his sled oh yeah what is that did you go to Home Depot what this is I yeah well no I I robbed a 5-year-old out here just kidding um this is like this is like the the rollsroyce of sleds out here at the L field in my opinion um I have more friends once again let's go let's go friends 3 2 1 M broke no not the M let's get you out now to new sixes Justin wor he's in Williams sport and he is keeping the tradition alive tonight my friend hello I mean I have to Ginger right I mean if I don't that's a problem that means I don't care and I do care and guess what I have a really special guest with me and joining me on the hill to do this for Lake Mary is a 1984 player from Altamont Springs Little League who won the US championship game 40 years later he's back here just by happen stance how it all worked out Lake Mary is here this is Daniel Danny Albert I get nervous don't break two [Applause] one moving wow this is It's a snail race there it is always get some momentum yes all right everybody's good everybody's okay Justin nice work all right all right so in case you didn't pick up on that each time I go down the hill here Lake Mary wins the one time I didn't go down the hill guess what Bernie Texas beat us you better bet that I'm going to be going down that Hill tomorrow before 3:30 the 3:30 first pitch so we can get that W and win the US championship game here at the Little League World Series should be an awesome game thank you so much for joining us for this special edition new six we're going to have much more throughout the afternoon and or throughout the evening and throughout the night but for now take [Music] care e e