El Segundo Little League are World Champions! By Dana Graham, President of the Palos Verdes Historical Society

A Grand Slam Victory: El Segundo Little League’s World Series Triumph By Dana Graham, President of the Palos Verdes Historical Society

In case you missed it, the Little League World Series concluded last Sunday with an astonishing and gripping victory by the El Segundo Little League - yes, the very same El Segundo located just a few miles up the coast. The event, held in Williamsport, PA, the heartland of Little League baseball, saw 20 teams from around the globe who had vanquished countless others to secure their spot and compete for the title of world's best. Despite being underdogs against traditional giants like Taiwan, Japan, Curacao, and Texas, El Segundo, after an early defeat to Texas, resiliently fought back in the double-elimination tournament, eventually overcoming Texas to win the US National championship. This set the stage for a clash with the tournament champion from the rest of the world, Curacao, who had just triumphed over the seemingly unbeatable Taiwan.

Leading 5-1 in the 5th inning of a 6 inning game, El Segundo was stunned when Curacao hit a grand slam home run, leveling the score. A tense standoff ensued with neither team yielding until the bottom of the 6th when El Segundo's Louis Lappe delivered a moment of magic, smashing one over the left field wall and clinching a 6-5 victory for El Segundo. While most of us who played Little League baseball never reached their heights, we vicariously lived through every at-bat, double-play, and spectacular catch.

In celebration of the team's triumph, the City of El Segundo organized a victory parade down Main Street, attracting people from across Southern California to revel in their achievement. Kudos to the El Segundo Little League - you united the nation and created memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.