Friday, September 06, 2002
Kentucky's world champions greet the president
By LORI BURLING
Associated Press Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Twelve young baseball players from southern Jefferson County stood tall on Thursday as they greeted President Bush.
The 11- and 12-year-old boys make up the Valley Sports American Little League team, the reigning world champions in Little League baseball. The team took the title after defeating Sendai, Japan, 1-0, on Aug. 25. Since their return to the state, they have been treated as local stars — lunching with the governor and taking part in a parade.
But that was no match for Thursday, according to pitcher Aaron Alvey.
“Who actually gets to meet the president,” Alvey, 12, asked as he pointed to Air Force One as it descended to the runway at the Kentucky Air National Guard. “This is a lifetime opportunity.”
Bush was in Louisville for a $1,000-a-plate luncheon for U.S. Rep. Anne Northup, R-Ky., who's running for a fourth congressional term.
Alvey and his teammates were greeted by U.S. Secret Service agents, who placed a secret service pin in the shape of a baseball bat in the hands of each player.
Once Air Force One landed, the boys, dressed in their championship shirts and yellow ballcaps, were escorted in a single-file line to the tarmac for a short meeting with the president.
Bush, dressed in a dark suit and red tie, waved to the crowd as he left the plane. The president, a former Little League player who was inducted into the league's Hall of Excellence last year, greeted each player with a handshake and a big grin under one of the plane's massive wings.
Valley Sports coach Dan Roach had prepped his champs before the president's arrival.
“This is the president, guys,” said a nervous-looking Roach. “Use your very best manners.”
However, Bush seemed relaxed, gathering the children in a huddle as a coach would with his players. He posed for several pictures and gave the team a signed baseball.
“He told us we were champs,” shortstop Zach Osborne said.
Zach's father, manager J. Troy Osborne, said Bush told the team to be the champs of life, not just baseball.
“Now that they are champions, they are role models for the world,” Osborne said the president told the team.
After Bush left the tarmac headed for the luncheon, the team was given a tour of Air Force One.
“It was awesome,” said Zach Osborne, who got to sit in the cockpit and received a photo of the plane and a package of M&Ms adorned with the presidential seal. “It had all kinds of neat things.”
The presidential pat on the back was the latest recognition for the boys, who are scheduled to appear on NBC's “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
But Troy Osborne said the players were in awe of Bush.
“You make them more nervous than any game they've ever played,” Osborne told the president. “I've never seen them so quiet.”
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Kentucky's world champions greet the president
