[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 16717]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______
                                 

                           WESTPORT ALL-STARS

 Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Madam President, I wish to congratulate the 
Westport Little League team who made it all the way to the national 
Little League World Series finals earlier this year. The 11 phenomenal 
student players from Westport, CT comprised the first team from 
Connecticut to reach the final rounds of the Little League World Series 
since 1989.
  The Westport Little League team came to the Little League World 
Series as New England champions and played against the reigning 
Northwest team from Washington State to make it to the finals. In this 
thrilling qualifier, Westport rallied from behind, winning 14 to 13 in 
the seventh inning with a single to left field. This game was the 
fourth time in Little League World Series history where both teams 
completed 27 runs and the third time in history to score a collective 
30 hits.
  Although these students from Westport did not win in the next few 
championship games, they never gave up. Even in their fight for third 
place against a team from Tijuana, Mexico, they played their hardest to 
the very end. Player Chad Knight hit two home runs and drove in seven 
more, making a Little League Series world record of nine runs.
  After their great success, Connecticut welcomed them home with a 
parade through the streets of Westport and an afternoon at the 
Governor's mansion. The Westport Little League team was invited as a 
special guest of the Yankees and hosted by the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
  I also wish to congratulate Tim Rogers, manager and head coach of the 
team, assistant coaches Brett Reiner and Tom Whelan, and the parents 
and loved ones of these inspiring young players. I am incredibly proud 
of their success, representing Connecticut as role models for student 
athletes around the country. They worked together as a team to reach 
the ultimate honor in youth baseball.

                          ____________________