A dozen Joplin Little League baseball players whose lives were affected by the May 22 tornado traveled to Phoenix in July to compete in a tournament and attend several activities surrounding Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game.
While in Phoenix, the players watched the Futures Game, the celebrity softball game and the always popular Home Run Derby.
But completely out of left field, the team received an invitation on Thursday to attend one more game.
Game 7 of the World Series.
The players arrived in St. Louis late Friday afternoon, was on the field for part of batting practice. Then they accompanied Chris Daughtry onto the field and stood near home plate while Daughtry sang the national anthem.
Mike Greninger, District 2 administrator for Little League Baseball in Missouri, received a call from MLB representative David James on Thursday afternoon, checking on the possibility of the Joplin team coming to St. Louis for the decisive game against the Texas Rangers.
About 9 p.m. Thursday, James iinformed Greninger the trip was a go, except ...
“It didn’t look promising at that time,” Greninger said. “It was 7-4 Texas. It didn’t look like we were going anywhere at that point.
“I was watching the game and the Cardinals ended up tying it up. I was getting excited, and then (Josh) Hamilton hit that two-run homer (in the 10th inning). I started pacing the floor. It was a fun evening.”
The players did not know about the trip until Friday morning.
“I told one of the parents (Thursday night) to start checking around to get rides together,” Greninger said. “The kids were notified first thing (Friday) morning, and amazingly, they didn’t have any problem getting any kid out of school.”
Sports
October 29, 2011
Joplin Little Leaguers attend Game 7
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Outlaws open season Thursday on the road
Chris Oldner takes a cut during the Joplin Outlaws practice Tuesday afternoon. The Outlaws open their season on Thursday night at Rossville and play seven road games before their home opener on June 5.
The Joplin Outlaws and new coach Rob Vessell have set some lofty goals for the 2012 baseball season.
Continued ... - Stanton’s homers fuel Marlins’ surge in May
- Five sign to join Missouri Southern women's track team
- Whisner ignites Joplin Miners past Webb City
- Venus Williams joins Serena on sideline in Paris
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- Pittsburg State Sports
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- Vengels sixth in heptathlon; PSU picks up two seventh-place finishes
- Ethan Cordray signs with Pittsburg State
- Lions, Gorillas begin competition in outdoor track and field championship
- Three finalists named for PSU head baseball coach position
- Lions qualify 10, PSU 15 for Division II outdoor track meet
- Missouri Southern Sports
- High School Sports
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Area athletes turn shine at state meet
Webb City's Jarvis Jones takes sixth in the 200.
- Cleo Elbert steps down at Thomas Jefferson
- Frontenac wins first state baseball title
- Joplin's Jeremy Lynn takes fifth at state tennis
- Frontenac advances at state baseball
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