Thursday afternoon the Greater New Orleans Little League team will take to the diamond in Waco, Texas in the Southwest Region of the Little League World Series. Coach Derek Anderson said it’s the first time GNO Little League has partnered with Jefferson Parish Parks and Rec, and he admires how his players play for each other.
“They like each other, they hang out off the field other times without being at baseball practice and do things together. For them to have this chance to do it together I think it is definitely something special,” said Anderson.
Anderson said it’s been a fun road making it to districts, winning districts, and then fighting their way back from the loser’s bracket to win the state championship. And when asked what his players are looking forward to the most about making it to regionals in Waco…
“Honestly for them, they’re probably looking forward to being on TV, because all the games at regionals are on ESPN+ and then once you get towards the end it goes to regular ESPN, so I’d say that’s probably the biggest thing,” said Anderson.
This will also be the first-year managers will have microphones in the dugout.
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Anderson, who’s coached in regular recreation in Jefferson Parish for 29 years, this is his first year as a little league skipper and his debut is impressive. Because they’ll face teams, they haven’t played in the regular season Anderson has this advice for his players…
“It’s not about what they do, it’s about what we do, we can only control what we can do on the field and if we play up to our potential and what we’re capable of I like our chances,” said Anderson.
They’ll play Oklahoma on Thursday at 1 pm and the Southwest Region Championship is on Tuesday at 6 pm. If they win the regional, they’ll head to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for the Little League World Series.
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