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HOUSTON (FOX 26) - It’s been a busy few days for the Post Oak Little League team. On Wednesday, the 12s All-Stars won the regional tournament in Waco, Texas, securing their spot as one of sixteen teams playing in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
"Next year, we'll be considered too old to play for Little League, so it's pretty cool to get a run and go to Williamsport on our last year," said Carter Pitts, third baseman and pitcher for Post Oak Little League.
Pitts, a standout player, has loved "America's Pastime," so you can imagine there's no better birthday wish than playing his favorite sport on the day he turns 13. That date is Aug. 18, by the way.
"I might be a little more excited about the tournament," admitted Pitts.
The players had an opportunity to watch batting practice at Minute Maid Park on Friday where they met a few of their favorite Astros players such as Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve.
Excited parents of the players, filling the first few rows of seats at Minute Maid Park, watched their sons meet the players, preparing to send off their boys on Saturday ahead of the tournament.
"He [Andrew Stover] doesn't like to show off and so it's nice to see him shine in this way," said Laura Stover, Andrew's mother. He is one of Post Oak's sluggers.
And in a sense, this whole team has been shining. Many of them have been playing together for several years and all of those years of practice are seemingly paying off.
"We've been playing, we've got great team chemistry," said Pitts. "We all love each other and that helps a lot."
Team chemistry — an important factor, and this team in particular would know because since the age of ten, eight of the thirteen players have been chosen as all-stars.
"There's a lot of talent, skill that you can have, but there's also, you have to have your friends," said shortstop Kaleb Rook. "If you're not friends with your team, you're not going to be very good...we all thought we could make it, but it's still shocking to even make it to Williamsport."
"They were playing baseball when they got out of school and they'll be playing baseball when most of the schools start here in Houston," said David Rook, manager of the Post Oak Little League team.
David says the team represents seven different school districts across the Houston area, so there are plenty of fans that will be around to cheer them on. Post Oak All-Star's first game will be on Aug. 16 against the New England region team. The Little League World Series final game is scheduled for Aug. 26.