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After a historic series of wins by the Alpine Little League 12U All-Stars, the young baseball players were recognized by the city of Menlo Park, town of Portola Valley and the San Francisco Giants all within a week’s time. Despite the team’s elimination from Little League’s West Region Tournament in August, the young players returned home to find themselves celebrated by the community.
From traveling to places such as Petaluma and San Bernardino, the team spent the summer months literally and figuratively going places no local Little Leaguer had gone before.
On Aug. 26, the team received a proclamation from the Menlo Park City Council during its regular council meeting.
“Congratulations to the Alpine Little League on an amazing summer season this year, and thank you to the parents, coaches, board members and officials for encouraging athletic excellence and sportsmanship to the youth of Menlo Park and neighboring communities,” said Menlo PArk Mayor Drew Combs as he recognized the team.
The next day, the Portola Valley Town Council also honored the team with a proclamation during its council meeting. The team was acknowledged for its historic achievements.
“Congratulations on your grit, your tenacity and your amazingly good attitudes,” said Council member Helen Wolter to the boys.
Alpine Little League Head Coach Dave Levinson said the team didn’t expect so many people to be invested in the journey until players and their families saw photos of how many people were cheering them on at the Dutch Goose watch party in West Menlo Park.
“To realize how cool of an experience we were able to bring to the community, as a community baseball league, was really special, probably the most special part of the run outside of the camaraderie among the players and families themselves,” he said in an email response.
Dozens of supporters gathered at each watch party to root for the young players as they played against teams from Fullerton and Honolulu in San Bernardino. The Alpine Little League spent a week in Southern California facing the best of the west.
“San Bernardino was just amazing,” said Levinson. “If a ball or two had bounced differently against Hawaii, we could’ve made it to Williamsport,(Pa., scene of the Little League World Series,” he wrote. “But we weren’t too sad about it because we knew we had played so well and were pretty much 50/50 to win.”
After losing 4-3 in a close game against Hawaii’s Honolulu Little League, the Alpine team faced the Fullerton Golden Hills Little League in an elimination game. The local team was eliminated after losing 11-0 against its California counterpart.
As the head coach, Levinson feels proud to be able to help the boys accomplish great feats.
“It feels great to know that positivity and hard work, the two main things I think we focused on, were able to take us beyond what others had been able to achieve,” said Levinson. “Even though we were volunteers and it’s just Little League, I feel like building up these boys into what they were, and bringing the community along, was as great an achievement as some of my best career or more ‘real’ or ‘serious’ moments.”
Alpine Little League player Bodhi Bedner said, “The way our community rallied behind us and supported us felt like a dream. Once in a lifetime experience for sure. We are still feeling the love.”
Beyond local support, the Little Leaguers also had the opportunity to walk onto the field at Oracle Park as the San Francisco Giants recognized the team’s success. During a game against the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 29, the Jumbotron read, “Welcome Alpine Little League State Champions!”
The celebration will continue into September as the team will be hosting a car parade led by Woodside Fire Protection District trucks from the Portola Valley Town Center to Ford Field. The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7. At Ford Field, there will be free ice cream, baseballs and baseball card signings by the players, a photo station and guest speakers.
Local politicians including County Supervisor Ray Mueller will be present at the event, according to the team.
The players of the Alpine Little League include: Derek Armstrong, Bodhi Bedner, Patrick Breslin, Jack Chambers, Dylan Dossola, Kogan Flannery, Teddy Hourigan, Nolan Levinson, Siméon Ouellette-Massiou, Charles Saste, Max Turner and Garrett Weiss.
