WILLIAMSPORT, PA (Dakota News Now) – The Sioux Falls Little League team will represent the Midwest region in Williamsport at the Little League World Series and will be hoping to make a comeback after a tough loss in its opener Wednesday night.
On Thursday, the team took some batting practice to prepare for the next game, but still had some time to relax for the first time during the trip.
The team has enjoyed life on the road. Two weeks away from home to play baseball is a vacation not many get to take.
“I’m having fun with my teammates and playing on the best field I’ll ever play on in my life,” said Kinnick Noble, who plays pitcher, catcher and shortstop.
A day off in Williamsport gave them the opportunity to spend even more time with their families. Some were not able to see their families again until the opening ceremony.
“It was nice to see my family again, especially in the stands cheering you on. After the game, we went to the wiffle bat area to play wiffle ball and spend time with family,” said second baseman Kennyel Flores.
“It was super weird not seeing home for a long time and also not seeing your siblings, your family, your pets and stuff, but it was also just about having fun with your teammates,” Noble said.
The parents enjoyed the memories they made in Pennsylvania, especially since they had to make greater sacrifices to be there for the boys and to play better.
They are happy to do this for a once-in-a-lifetime trip. But this not only represents an even greater financial burden, it also requires a lot of planning.
“The game is the game, but after the game there’s so much else going on. You’re trying to coordinate our whole family coming here, my in-laws are trying to come, my parents are coming this weekend. I have an older daughter who’s going to college here next week, so we’re trying to get her here so our family can get together for the first time in weeks,” said Jacob Wurth, whose son Sam plays for the team.
Despite a loss on Wednesday, the Sioux Falls team is focused on its comeback, but in the meantime, it continues to take time for family before coming home.
“I’ve been watching the Little League World Series since I was 12 years old and we watched it on TV all the time and it’s kind of, as they say, a dream come true. Think of all the things you do to get here. Not only is the kid there, but seeing it through their eyes is the most amazing thing a parent can do,” Wurth said.
One of the games that players, coaches and families watched together before spending some family time on Thursday night was the game between the Metro Region and the Mountain Region, as this game determined their opponent on Saturday.
Sioux Falls will face Thursday’s losing team, Metro Region, representing Staten Island, New York, at 3 p.m. Central Time.
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