Independent Record: Little Leaguers get rousing welcome home
The first Montana team to advance to the Little League World Series is back home after spending nearly a month on the road.
Hundreds of family, friends and fans were at Billings Logan International Airport on Sunday evening when the Big Sky All-Stars returned.
The team won the Northwest Regional tournament in San Bernardino, Calif., and flew straight to South Williamsport, Pa., for the series. Montana fell to California 11-2 in the U.S. championship game after beating the team from Huntington Beach 1-0 three days earlier.
“We knew there’s gonna be some people, but we didn’t know there’s gonna be, like, this many people,” said Ben Askelson, whose walk-off home run in the seventh inning gave Montana the semifinal win over California.
“We’ve heard all about how much you guys have supported us, watching all the games and stuff, so I just want to say thanks, that’s very cool,” said Askelson, who is 13.
