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We won’t be the first to say it.
And we certainly hope we aren’t the last to say it.
Congratulations to the kids on the Tunkhannock Little League softball team.
They came tantalizing close to winning the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Ore., falling to Ohio in the championship game Thursday night.
We are sure there is some disappointment among the 13 girls who played so well together, for so long this summer.
We are also sure that as a little time passes and the tears dry, all the girls on the team will realize just how much they accomplished this summer.
In our book, (yes, we will use that old cliche), they are world champions. They sure put on one heck of show.
The team showed the heart and determination that we would love to see in all our favorite sports teams.
There were watching parties throughout Tunkhannock showing support for the kids from Wyoming County.
And from the sound of the telecast, plenty of family and friends made the trek to Oregon to root Tunkhannock on.
But the preteens on the team should know that they gave all of Northeastern Pennsylvania a shot in the arm.
At local watering holes throughout the region televisions were tuned into ESPN to watch their games.
Their extra-inning, quarterfinal win over the Asia-Pacific champion from the Philippines had patrons at at least one local hot spot cheering every bit as loud as they did for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles back in February.
A night later, they thrilled the same crowd once again by defeating the home team from Portland to advance to the championship game.
So take heart, kids. You did a great job.
The team included:
• Elaina Kulsicavage
• Ella McNeff
• Kaya Hannon
• Erin Van Ness
• Serenity Kerr
• Julianna Roote
• Piper Robinson
• Cali Wisnosky
• Emily Patton
• Syndey Huff
• Hannah James
• Paige Marabell
• Alexis Gilroy
You may not have walked away with the championship trophy, but in our minds you won something so much more important – our hearts.