Old Cardinal
08-13-2009, 05:12 PM
Old pals lead Little League finalists on 2 teams
By JOHNNIE WALTERS
August 13, 2009
Posted: August 12, 2009, 6:46 PM CDT Last updated: August 13, 2009, 6:42 AM CDT
The idea of boyhood friends from Bridge City leading Little League teams on two continents to regional tournaments at the same time is far-fetched enough.
But Ronnie Shugart and Ed Prince, now 38 years old and managers for teams in Bridge City and Ramstein, Germany, are on the verge of managing their respective squads to perhaps the ultimate spectacle in youth sports, the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
"It's crazy how things have turned out for us," Shugart, manager of the Bridge City Little League all-stars told the Enterprise in Waco. "We're just two guys from a small town. It's pretty cool how we both have the opportunity to play in the World Series during the same season."
Bridge City plays San Antonio's McAllister Park Little League at 7 p.m. tonight in the nationally televised championship game of the Southwest Regional tournament on ESPN2.
The winner advances to the World Series in Williamsport, which will be held Aug. 21-30.
"This is a big game for us and we are going to do whatever it takes to join Ed's (Prince) team in Williamsport," said Shugart, who keeps in contact with Prince by way of the Facebook Web site. "We are excited about our chances."
Prince's team, Kaiserslautern Military Community of Ramstein, Germany, beat five teams to win the Europe Regional tournament in Kutno, Poland, on Tuesday. His son, Cody, pitches on the team.
"I got a chance to talk with Ed for split second after the championship game, and he expressed just how happy he was that his team made it to the 'big dance,' as he puts it," said Ed's father Don Prince, whose son was in the midst of a 14-hour drive back to Germany on Wednesday. "Ed said it would be a dream come true if he and Ronnie could both be in Williamsport."
Don Prince remembers Shugart and his son being very competitive as kids.
Read more in Thursday's Beaumont Enterprise. And for inning by inning updates of Thursday night's game, log on to www.beaumontenterprise.com starting at 7 p.m. tonight
By JOHNNIE WALTERS
August 13, 2009
Posted: August 12, 2009, 6:46 PM CDT Last updated: August 13, 2009, 6:42 AM CDT
The idea of boyhood friends from Bridge City leading Little League teams on two continents to regional tournaments at the same time is far-fetched enough.
But Ronnie Shugart and Ed Prince, now 38 years old and managers for teams in Bridge City and Ramstein, Germany, are on the verge of managing their respective squads to perhaps the ultimate spectacle in youth sports, the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
"It's crazy how things have turned out for us," Shugart, manager of the Bridge City Little League all-stars told the Enterprise in Waco. "We're just two guys from a small town. It's pretty cool how we both have the opportunity to play in the World Series during the same season."
Bridge City plays San Antonio's McAllister Park Little League at 7 p.m. tonight in the nationally televised championship game of the Southwest Regional tournament on ESPN2.
The winner advances to the World Series in Williamsport, which will be held Aug. 21-30.
"This is a big game for us and we are going to do whatever it takes to join Ed's (Prince) team in Williamsport," said Shugart, who keeps in contact with Prince by way of the Facebook Web site. "We are excited about our chances."
Prince's team, Kaiserslautern Military Community of Ramstein, Germany, beat five teams to win the Europe Regional tournament in Kutno, Poland, on Tuesday. His son, Cody, pitches on the team.
"I got a chance to talk with Ed for split second after the championship game, and he expressed just how happy he was that his team made it to the 'big dance,' as he puts it," said Ed's father Don Prince, whose son was in the midst of a 14-hour drive back to Germany on Wednesday. "Ed said it would be a dream come true if he and Ronnie could both be in Williamsport."
Don Prince remembers Shugart and his son being very competitive as kids.
Read more in Thursday's Beaumont Enterprise. And for inning by inning updates of Thursday night's game, log on to www.beaumontenterprise.com starting at 7 p.m. tonight