CHS_Grad '85
08-10-2005, 10:20 AM
Thievery not stopping Little Leaguers
Associated Press
Posted: 18 hours ago
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The beleaguered Little Leaguers from Bryant have shrugged off the theft of all their equipment - not to mention stiff, unworn gloves - to win their first two games in the Little League World Series qualifying tournament in Waco, Texas.
"The kids just shook it off," said Bryant Little League commissioner Steve Glenn. "And the gloves didn't matter because there weren't any errors."
By beating Louisiana 12-3 Monday morning, the team representing Arkansas clinched a spot in elimination play in the Southwest Regional tournament beginning Wednesday.
Bryant began pool play by beating Colorado 3-1 on Sunday, less than 36 hours after a trailer containing the players' uniforms, gloves, cleats, bats and street clothes was stolen off the back of their team van Friday night while the kids were attending a Texas Rangers game.
The Bryant manager, Ronnie Mayall, said the thieves broke through bolts, chains and locks to move the massive trailer onto their own vehicle and out of the Arlington motel parking lot in less than 10 minutes.
Mayall said he had returned from the big league game ahead of the kids and other coaches to order pizza around 10:05 p.m. Friday, and the trailer was in place, hooked up to the team van. When he came back down from his motel room at 10:15, it was gone.
Parents and friends who heard about the theft late Friday sprung into action and arranged for new uniforms to be made early Saturday morning. Glenn was among those who drove the new equipment from Arkansas to Texas so it would arrive just hours before the Colorado game.
He still is hopeful the police can find the trailer, with its $5,000-$6,000 worth of baseball equipment.
"We're still working with Arlington police, but right now we want the kids to focus on baseball," Glenn said. "We can worry about paying for replacing the stuff later."
The team wraps up pool play Tuesday night against East Texas, but even if it loses it would move closer to a trip to South Williamsport, Pa., for the World Series tournament with teams from around the world.
Bryant has made it to the regional title game each of the last two years, losing both times to a squad from Richmond, Texas. Richmond is there again this year and is 1-0 in the other four-team pool. As in the last two years, the title game will be broadcast on ESPN Saturday night.
Associated Press
Posted: 18 hours ago
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - The beleaguered Little Leaguers from Bryant have shrugged off the theft of all their equipment - not to mention stiff, unworn gloves - to win their first two games in the Little League World Series qualifying tournament in Waco, Texas.
"The kids just shook it off," said Bryant Little League commissioner Steve Glenn. "And the gloves didn't matter because there weren't any errors."
By beating Louisiana 12-3 Monday morning, the team representing Arkansas clinched a spot in elimination play in the Southwest Regional tournament beginning Wednesday.
Bryant began pool play by beating Colorado 3-1 on Sunday, less than 36 hours after a trailer containing the players' uniforms, gloves, cleats, bats and street clothes was stolen off the back of their team van Friday night while the kids were attending a Texas Rangers game.
The Bryant manager, Ronnie Mayall, said the thieves broke through bolts, chains and locks to move the massive trailer onto their own vehicle and out of the Arlington motel parking lot in less than 10 minutes.
Mayall said he had returned from the big league game ahead of the kids and other coaches to order pizza around 10:05 p.m. Friday, and the trailer was in place, hooked up to the team van. When he came back down from his motel room at 10:15, it was gone.
Parents and friends who heard about the theft late Friday sprung into action and arranged for new uniforms to be made early Saturday morning. Glenn was among those who drove the new equipment from Arkansas to Texas so it would arrive just hours before the Colorado game.
He still is hopeful the police can find the trailer, with its $5,000-$6,000 worth of baseball equipment.
"We're still working with Arlington police, but right now we want the kids to focus on baseball," Glenn said. "We can worry about paying for replacing the stuff later."
The team wraps up pool play Tuesday night against East Texas, but even if it loses it would move closer to a trip to South Williamsport, Pa., for the World Series tournament with teams from around the world.
Bryant has made it to the regional title game each of the last two years, losing both times to a squad from Richmond, Texas. Richmond is there again this year and is 1-0 in the other four-team pool. As in the last two years, the title game will be broadcast on ESPN Saturday night.