[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7743-H7745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING COLUMBUS NORTHERN LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM ON ITS 
                2006 LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES VICTORY

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 991) congratulating the Columbus Northern 
Little League Baseball Team from Columbus, Georgia, on its victory in 
the 2006 Little League World Series Championship games.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 991

       Whereas on Monday, August 28, 2006, the Columbus Northern 
     Little League baseball team from Columbus, Georgia, defeated 
     the Japanese Little League team by a score of 2-1 to win the 
     2006 Little League World Series Championship at South 
     Williamsport, Pennsylvania;

[[Page H7744]]

       Whereas, although Columbus Northern had taken 1 loss in the 
     series, they did not give up, and although the Championship 
     game was delayed a day by rain, the Columbus Northern team 
     still kept pressing hard to come from behind to win the 
     Championship game;
       Whereas a team from the State of Georgia had not won the 
     world title in more than 20 years;
       Whereas the 2006 Columbus Northern Little League World 
     Championship team consists of players Kyle Carter, Brady 
     Hamilton, Matthew Hollis, Matthew Kuhlenberg, Josh Lester, 
     Ryan Lang, Mason Meyers, J.T. Phillips, Kyle Rovig, Patrick 
     Stallings, and Cody Walker;
       Whereas the 2006 Columbus Northern Little League World 
     Championship team is led by Coach Richard Carter, Manager 
     Randy Morris, Team Mother Lynne Phillips, and President Curt 
     Thompson;
       Whereas the championship victory of the Columbus Northern 
     Little League Baseball Team sets an example of sportsmanship, 
     dedication, and a ``never give up'' spirit for men and women 
     all across the country; and
       Whereas the achievement of the Columbus Northern Little 
     League Baseball Team is the cause of enormous pride for the 
     Nation, the State of Georgia, and the city of Columbus: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives congratulates 
     the Columbus Northern Little League Baseball Team from 
     Columbus, Georgia, on its victory in the 2006 Little League 
     World Series Championship games.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer House Resolution 991, to 
congratulate the boys of Columbus Northern of winning the Little League 
World Series. Thousands upon thousands of kids across the Nation take 
to the baseball fields each year to enjoy America's pastime.
  The best of the best get a chance to compete for the title of U.S. 
Champion. The team that claims that mantle gets the chance to represent 
the Nation in the world championship game. This year, the American 
champions hailed from Columbus in Georgia's Eighth Congressional 
District.
  While all of my colleagues from Georgia are certainly proud that the 
world champions are from our State, all of the Members of the House can 
take pride in their significant accomplishment.
  Columbus Northern fought hard through the American playoffs. They 
lost one game, but they did not lose their fighting spirit. They came 
back with a vengeance and captured the American championship. Then they 
faced a strong Japanese team in the grand finale in Williamsport, 
Pennsylvania.
  It was a defensive struggle, and pitcher Kyle Carter held the 
Japanese batters to one run, and catcher Cody Walker provided the 
winning margin, belting a two-run homer.
  The boys of Northern Columbus showed that they are winners not only 
on the field, but also off the field. They demonstrated sportsmanship 
and Southern hospitality after the game by going to the Japanese dugout 
and inviting their opponents to run the victory lap around the field 
with them.
  A historical perspective puts the significance of this victory into 
better focus. Though this country is the home of baseball, it is not 
often that the American Little League team hoists the world 
championship trophy.
  Since 1980, only eight U.S. teams have won. I might add here, Mr. 
Speaker, that two of those teams hailed from Georgia. For Georgia, this 
victory shows the world that our athletes and coaches are among the 
best that play the game. The coaches and players of Columbus Northern 
can take pride in knowing that they have become the symbol of Georgia's 
athletic prowess.
  But even more important than that, the boys of Columbus Northern will 
have memories to last a lifetime. They have had the extraordinary 
opportunity to live the dream of every American boy who has ever 
slipped on a glove or swung a bat.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
Columbus Northern, the American and World Champions, by supporting 
House Resolution 991.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me congratulate Mr. Westmoreland and 
all of his neighbors and friends and residents of Columbus. I can 
imagine the tremendous sense of pride that that entire community feels 
and how proud they are of the accomplishments of their young people.
  Mr. Speaker, Little League Baseball is the world's largest organized 
youth sports program, with nearly 2 million Little Leaguers playing, 
and more than a million adult volunteers throughout the United States 
and in dozen of other countries. No other youth support comes close to 
having the same level of participation.
  On August 28, 2006, the Columbus Northern Little League team defeated 
the Kawaguchi Little League team of Japan by a score of 2-1. Both teams 
played an excellent game and represented their country and their league 
well.
  In the end, the Columbus Northern Little League team concluded its 
season with an impressive record of 20 wins and only one loss. Columbus 
Northern is Georgia's second team to win the Little League World 
Series.
  The 11 young men of the Columbus Northern team should be proud of 
their great accomplishment. Pitcher Lyle Carter made history by 
striking out 11 batters and became the first pitcher in history to win 
four times in the Little League World Series.
  Cody Walker knocked a two-out pitch over the right field fence for 
the two runs that won the game over Japan.
  Manager Randy Morris and Coach Richard Carter deserve recognition for 
guiding these young and committed players to victory.
  Mr. Speaker, while we congratulate the Columbus Northern team, and 
while I urge passage of H. Res. 991, I can tell you there is no better 
sight to see during spring or summer, when you can see groups of young 
people out participating in an organized sport with their parents and 
neighbors and friends watching.
  I guarantee you, Mr. Speaker, if we had more Little League teams, we 
would have fewer young people in juvenile delinquency settings, and our 
prisons could get emptied down, if not out.
  Again I commend the Columbus Northern team and especially all of the 
coaches and volunteers and people of the community who really made it 
possible.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for 
those kind words and remarks. The gentleman is exactly right about the 
number of youth that should be playing Little League.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Gingrey).
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague. I am sitting here 
listening to the two gentlemen speak; I am ready to grab my bat and 
glove and hat and furthermore take me off the streets so I can go out 
and play ball again.
  But they are absolutely right. This is a fantastic achievement from 
this team from Columbus, Georgia. I am especially proud to share a few 
moments, because I have part of Columbus in my district. This team is 
from Representative Westmoreland's district, but what a great community 
Columbus is, Muscogee County, and the great people there. I know they 
are so proud of this young ball team and the coaches.
  Of course we have already mentioned names. I am sure that one of 
those coaches decided to ask that team from Japan to join in that 
victory lap. That is the kind of sportsmanship that is developed by 
these men and women that volunteer their time to work with our youth 
and achieve such great results.
  My colleague from Georgia, Congressman Westmoreland, mentioned that 
we had another team from Georgia. Indeed, back in 1983, and my nurse,

[[Page H7745]]

I was, of course, in medical practice at the time. Her son was the 
third baseman on that team.
  And he today is a medical doctor, a radiologist. But he was a great 
little ball player. And I think one of the players on that team was a 
dominant pitcher just like in this year, that led them to victory. He 
ultimately was a major league baseball pitcher.
  But what happens with most of these kids, of course, is that they go 
on to other careers, like Adam Olmsted. Ken and Lynn's son is, as I 
say, a doctor now. And they go on to very successful careers. And it is 
not often that they go on to become Major League Baseball players.
  But the ideals, the sportsmanship, the determination, the 
relationship they have with their teammates is the thing that they 
learn, that they take with them through life. And it makes their lives 
successful no matter what endeavor they pursue.
  So we have honored these young players at Georgia Tech halftime, 
University of Georgia halftime. I want to say to any of them that go on 
and play college baseball, do not go to Auburn or Alabama just to cross 
the river. Stay in Columbus, go to LaGrange College, University of 
Georgia, Bulldogs, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State University. We have got 
some great baseball teams in Georgia, and that is where we want them to 
play.

                              {time}  1615

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to 
reclaim my time and then to yield such time as he might need and use to 
another son of Georgia (Mr. Bishop).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for 
yielding.
  I rise today certainly in support of H. Res. 991, with my other 
colleagues from Georgia, and with great pride of the 2006 Little League 
World Champions, the Northern Little League team of Columbus, Georgia.
  The victory by our Northern Little Leaguers over the undefeated 
Kawaguchi City team representing the country of Japan makes them only 
the second team from Georgia to win a World Championship. While a team 
from Marietta, Georgia won in 1983, our team is only the second team 
from Georgia to ever qualify for this event in the entire 60-year 
history, and we are very proud of that.
  As a Member of Congress representing Columbus and Muscogee County, 
where most of the young men live, I cannot tell you how proud we are of 
these fine, young men and the character and discipline that they 
exhibited.
  The entire city, the surrounding area, our State and, indeed, people 
all over the country were thrilled by the success of our young people. 
The Northern Little League players are not only world champions, they 
are certainly hometown heroes, and they are celebrities. You should 
have seen them with the class and dignity as they spoke with the media, 
as they commended their opponents and as they very dutifully signed the 
thousands of autographs surrounding the celebration of their victory.
  These young men represented the city of Columbus, they represented 
the State of Georgia, and they represented the United States of America 
in the finest tradition of Little League and what it stands for and for 
what it represents: teamwork, sportsmanship, and camaraderie. We are 
proud of them.
  The spirit of sportsmanship was no more apparent than it was this 
year. After they won the game, and you have heard, the entire Columbus 
team walked over to the opponents' dugout and beckoned for them to join 
them in taking the victory lap around the field. It really brought 
goose bumps and tears to our eyes to see side by side those two teams 
scoop up dirt from the infield to keep as souvenirs.
  I also want to pay tribute to the parents and the coaches of these 
young men. Any parent of a Little League baseball player, for that 
matter, football, soccer or other sports, has to know and appreciate 
the love and the commitment that is needed.
  Let me pay tribute to the dedicated fans in Columbus, the hundreds of 
whom took the 900-mile trip to Williamsport from Columbus to support 
our team, as well as the other Little League teams in the Columbus 
area, and the many volunteers, sponsors and supporters who have 
dedicated themselves to Little League sports year after year.
  Throughout the World Series, it was clear that Northern was well-
schooled and well-prepared which, in large part, points to the hard 
work and the dedication of the team's manager, Randy Morris, and coach, 
Richard Carter.
  It was the team itself who had to put it all together on the field, 
and I would like to pay special tribute to each one of the team members 
individually, including Brady Hamilton, No. 6; Ryan Lang, No. 18; Josh 
Lester, No. 4, the most valuable player; Matthew Hollis, No. 10; 
Patrick Stallings, No. 25; Mason Meyers, No. 16; Kyle Rovig, No. 8; 
Matthew Kuhlenberg, No. 7; Cody Walker, No. 21; Kyle Carter, No. 19; 
and J.T. Phillips, No. 22.
  Babe Ruth once said that, ``Baseball was, is and always will be to me 
the best game in the world.'' Indeed, for the millions of Little League 
fans around the world, the 2006 Little League Championship game will go 
down as one of the best single games in the history of the event.
  We are so proud of our Little Leaguers. Northern Little League, 
congratulations for a job well done.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers. I want to 
urge all Members to support the adoption of H. Res. 991, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 991.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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