[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 120 (Thursday, September 5, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9962-S9963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   THREE CHEERS FOR CRANSTON WESTERN

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, during the August recess, 14 youngsters 
from Cranston, RI, achieved something that no Rhode Islanders had ever 
achieved before. On August 22, the Cranston

[[Page S9963]]

Western Little League All-Stars were crowned the National Champions at 
this year's Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA.
  Mr. President, I know we are dealing with important matters here. But 
this is an important matter also. This wonderful team of youngsters 
from our State first had to win the State championship. Then they went 
to the national championships in Williamsport where they defeated--can 
you believe it--California 5 to 1. Three days later in front of 17,000 
fans and a national television audience they defeated the team that had 
previously defeated them, namely the heavily favored Panama City, FL, 
team which put them into the world championship game. That was against 
Chinese Taipei.
  I think for anyone who follows the Little League baseball knows that 
the Chinese Taipei team was always an outstanding one and, indeed, they 
did win against the Cranston Western All-Stars.
  This was truly an amazing accomplishment. When Cranston Western 
started down this road, it was just one of several thousand teams 
across the country vying for the right to play for the world 
championship. To get into the World Series, it had to win three mini-
tournaments against the best teams in Rhode Island, and then in the 
Northeast, over the course of 2 months.
  Listen to some of these last-minute heroics. It took a home run in 
the tenth inning just to advance beyond the district playoffs. Then 
they had to win three straight games, including two in a row over a 
previously undefeated South Kingstown team, to stave off elimination in 
the State tournament. And in the final game of the East Regionals, 
Cranston Western needed a game-saving, diving catch by their left 
fielder, and then a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, to 
overcome a tough Pennsylvania squad.

  Once they got to Williamsport, the job only got tougher. History 
certainly was not on their side. Indeed, Cranston Western was only the 
third team from Rhode Island to make it to the Little League World 
Series, and the first to do so since 1980. And in neither of those two 
cases did a Rhode Island team win a single game at the national level. 
What's more, in the first game, they had to face California--a State 
that had produced 5 World Series champions and had been represented in 
the tournament a record 32 times.
  But these courageous, young Rhode Islanders proved their mettle. They 
shook off any butterflies they might have had, and defeated the 
Californians by a 5 to 1 score. Three days later, in front of 17,000 
fans and a national television audience, they avenged an earlier loss 
to heavily favored Panama City, FL. That win put them in the world 
championship game.
  Unfortunately, Cranston Western came up short in the World Series 
final against Chinese Taipei. But that loss in no way diminished what 
these boys from the city of Cranston accomplished. They were front page 
news in Rhode Island for a solid week. Nearly every television in the 
State--whether in private homes or restaurants--was tuned to the final 
game. And when they returned home they received a hero's welcome, 
complete with a police escort from the Connecticut border and a 
fireworks display in their hometown.
  What did these boys learn from their experience this summer? I can 
think of three things.
  First, they learned that you don't have to be the biggest, or the 
strongest, or even the most-talented to succeed in life. While those 
attributes are important, they're meaningless without heart, grit, and 
fierce determination. And Cranston Western led the pack in those three 
categories.
  Second, they learned that practice really does make perfect. 
Throughout the summer, the team spent nearly every waking moment on the 
baseball diamond, whether it was at official practices or playing pick-
up games. Moreover, at the beginning of their championship run, every 
player made a commitment to the team not to miss a single practice. And 
each one of them lived up to that commitment.
  Third, and I believe most importantly, they learned to place a high 
value on teamwork. No single player could be counted on to carry the 
load alone. Each member of that team made a crucial contribution at one 
point or another. That's a critical lesson I hope these little leaguers 
will remember for the rest of their lives.
  And Mr. President, as I'm sure they would tell you, these boys had a 
lot of help along the way. There was their very capable manager, Mike 
Varrato. He was the one who set the lineup, arranged the defense, and 
made sure the team was physically and mentally ready to play every day.
  They had veteran coaches Nick Dinezza and Larry Lepore. These two men 
helped the pitchers with their location, threw batting practice, and 
hit hundreds, if not thousands, of ground balls to the infielders and 
fly balls to the outfielders. There's no doubt that on many occasions, 
the coaches went home more tired than the young ballplayers.
  And, of course, there were the parents. You've never seen a more 
loyal group. They scheduled family meals around games and practices. 
They gave up summer vacations at the beach to follow their sons from 
one venue to the next. During the games, they rang cowbells, and banged 
pots and pans, and did whatever it took to rally the troops. They 
cheered mightily when their boys won, and hugged them and reassured 
them the few times that they lost. And I'm sure they never hesitated to 
voice their opinions whenever the umpires made a bad call.
  And so, I want to offer my heartiest congratulations to the members 
of the Cranston Western Little League team, and all who were associated 
with their championship season. They stirred an enormous amount of 
pride in Rhode Island, and made for a very exciting August in our 
State.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a copy of the team roster 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

 Cranston Western Little League All-Stars--1996 Little League National 
                               Champions

       Lucas Ashton; Jake Bazirgan; Brett Bell; Lew Colby; Evan 
     Dizoglio; Chris Gallo; Matt Lovejoy; Michael Luke; Tom 
     Michael; Jay Sparling; Peter Spinelli; Craig Stinson; Rick 
     Stoddard; and Paul Tavarozzi.

                          ____________________