WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Needville is headed to the U.S. Championship game at the Little League Baseball World Series.
The team from Fort Bend County beat the team representing the northwest region with only one run.
Recommended Videos
“We were gritty, you know, we pitch and play defense and we don’t believe in quitting,” Needville Little League manager Andy McRae said.
The game was scoreless and went into three extra innings before the winning run. Parents and fans paced back and forth filled with nervous energy.
“I didn’t know we turned into an MLB team playing nine innings today, but here we are,” Brittany Benge, the mother of Wednesday night’s pitcher Easton Benge, said after the game. “It is moment by moment. Pitch by pitch, out by out, inning by inning. The emotions are just I mean, I’m shaking.”
Needville has now won four straight games at the Little League Baseball World Series and remains undefeated.
“I was very much enjoying the moment. Just happy. Just happy that I got to start the game and happy that he put me out there in that big spot,” Easton Benge said after the game.
Some called the win “unbelievable.”
“I keep telling my wife to pinch me to make sure I’m not dreaming,” Needville Little League president Charlie Swanson said. “Never seen a game like this. Ever. Ever. Not in Little League. I don’t even know that I’ve seen a professional game this good.”
Nearly 9,000 fans were in attendance for Needville’s win against a Seattle team. Needville represents the small town in Fort Bend County of only about 3,000 people.
“Coming from the small community that we have, I think that’s what’s doing it for us, is having that backing,” Brittany Benge said.
Players were confident going into Wednesday night’s game.
“It’s going to be a good game. It’s a tough team, but we should pull out with the victory,” Jayson Arispe said, who plays on the team. “Best part is just talking to other countries, like learning how they live and just playing here.”
Needville Little League arrived in Williamsport nearly two weeks ago after going undefeated during the regional tournament in Waco.
“We’re basically taking one game at a time, but we just got to compete and be locked in,” player Michael Raven said. “I know if we played how we’re supposed to we could definitely do this.”
They’ve been playing in front of large crowds and TV cameras throughout the tournament.
“It’s better for them to play in front of people because it kind of makes them concentrate and really get in there. They want to look good, right?” McRae said.
Fans have also been gathering for watch parties in the Houston area to cheer on the Needville team each step of the way. One watch party this week included members of the Pearland Little League team, which represented the southwest region at the Little League World Series last year.
McRae also told KPRC 2 the 94-year-old great grandmother of player Jagger McRae has her assisted living facility in the Sugar Land area watching the games too. He said the facility canceled bingo in order for everyone to watch.
Needville’s opponent for the U.S. Championship game will be decided on Thursday.
“We’re going to go in there and battle. It’s a baseball game,” McRae said.
A win during the U.S. Championship on Saturday will secure Needville a spot in the World Series Championship game on Sunday.
RELATED COVERAGE: