[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 105 (Wednesday, September 8, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1550-E1551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO NATIONAL CHAMPION CONEJO VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUE TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 2004

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the coaches and 
players of the Conejo Valley Little League team, who won 22 consecutive 
postseason games on their way to earning the title of U.S. Champions on 
August 30.
  To emphasize the enormity of this accomplishment by a dozen 11- and 
12-year-old ballplayers from my district, allow me to cite some stats. 
About 7,400 teams and more than 88,800 players started the post-season 
quest. It was a two-month odyssey that began on June 29. The boys from 
Thousand Oaks, California, outscored their opponents 165-29. They 
played their final games thousands of miles from home, in South 
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, before an international television audience 
and more than 30,000 people in the stands.
  Talk about pressure.
  They also lost their final game, and the world championship, to the 
Pabao Little League team of Willemstad, Curacao. But they turned that 
loss into a victory of respect when they circled the field with the 
Curacao players, tipped their hats to the Curacao fans and threw 
baseballs into the stands for souvenirs.
  The Conejo Valley Little League team displayed class, talent, drive 
and true sportsmanship in a long string of wins on their way to 
becoming U.S. Champions, and during a single loss to Curacao.
  As manager Tim Ginther told a reporter: ``Now we're No. 2 in the 
world overall. That's not bad.''
  Political columnist and baseball fanatic George Will once observed 
that ``sports serve society by providing vivid examples of 
excellence.'' The members of the Conejo Valley Little League team are 
vivid examples of excellence.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in congratulating 
manager Tim Ginther; coaches Jim Barrett, Rick Brower and Frank Leon; 
the players, James Brady, Jordan Brower, Hayden Cronenbold, Derrick 
Francis, Timmy Ginther, Adam Justinlano, Tyler Karp,

[[Page E1551]]

Danny Leon, John Lister, Sean McIntyre, Evan Ocello and Cody Thomson; 
and their families, for winning the U.S. championship with drive, 
talent and true sportsmanship.

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