NEWBERRY — Since returning to Newberry from the American Legion World Series, pitcher and first baseman Ryne Huggins said he has received a lot of congratulations and handshakes.
“Everyone has given us a lot of support,” Huggins said. “People I do not even know are coming up to me and shaking my hand.”
From parents offering to do laundry and give rides to players, Head Coach Daniel Gregory said the community support they received was unbelievable, both from hometown folks and the community of Shelby, N.C.
“We couldn’t have had more support from parents and when it became a bigger deal and the venues got bigger, our fans showed up and they made Shelby into home games for us, which was incredible,” Gregory said.
Playing Connecticut during the World Series championship, as the team fell behind 6-0, Gregory said it would have been easy for anyone who wasn’t a parent to leave the stadium.
“They never once left and it paid off,” Gregory said. “Those kids really appreciated it.”
Before the game against Oregon and the national championship, Gregory said the team asked him if a lot of people would be there to watch.
“That’s pretty special when I’m able to tell them yes,” Gregory said.
During their time in Asheboro, N.C., Chapin-Newberry gained the nickname of “Cardiac Kids,” said player Justin Hawkins.
“We started playing some really close games and our fans would complain about us giving them a heart attack,” Hawkins said.
The nickname stuck throughout the rest of the tournament and into the World Series Championship games in Shelby, N.C.
Hawkins said it meant so much to the team as a whole to have such a huge crowd from home come support them. Another proud moment, Hawkins said, was that a lot of people were watching the team on television.
Danton Hyman said the fans made him feel as if they were playing on their home field at all levels.
From the beginning of the season to the end, Hyman said there were no bandwagon fans because they were supportive every single game.
“Without the fans, none of this is possible,” Hyman said. “They make the sport such a joy to play.”
Following the completion of the World Series Championship game, the team had a police escort back to the Smith Road Complex at Newberry College, their home field. Although early in morning, fans still showed in support of the team.
“When police lights are on at 2:45 a.m., it’s usually not a good thing, but this time it was a good thing,” Gregory said. “It’s so great that they got to have that moment.”
Since returning to Newberry, Gregory said he cannot describe the number of hands he’s shaken, even of people doesn’t know.
“I can’t put it into words,” Gregory said. “It was great.”