A group of Little League all-stars got a big boost from their favorite players before they embark to win a championship.On Friday, the Post Oak Little League team was invited to Minute Maid Park before the game.The players were welcomed onto the field, and they got to meet Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa. "That was awesome," Post Oak player George Kugle said. "We watch them on TV almost every day of the week and just meeting them, like a movie star, is pretty cool. "The kids meeting the MLB players aren't bad themselves.Today, the Astros invited the team to the game.After beating Oklahoma 8-0, Post Oak advanced to the Little League World Series. "We're going to root for them," Astors manager A.J. Hinch said. "How cool is it that our city gets represented on a big stage? Little League World Series, we'll be following them day-by-day. "In Pennsylvania, the Astros love won't end with Friday's visit.You might recognize the Post Oak jersey when you see it on TV. "It's a throwback Astros jersey," Post Oak Coach David Rook said. "It's orange and yellow. It's pretty cool that we get to represent the southwest region in that. "No matter the outcome of the upcoming tournament, these kids have already made memories that will last a lifetime. "You can't think of anything better," Post Oak player Andrew Stover said. "You've grown up watching them, and now we get to meet them. "Post Oak heads to Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the Little League World Series on Saturday morning.They face New England first.<doc-sep>His 100-percent wool jersey still hangs on his wall. The bat – a Louisville Slugger with every team member's name in gold printed on it – is never far from his reach; his gold medal hangs on a chain. It's been 68 years since Fred Penny and his National League White team won the 1950 Little League World Series, but it felt like yesterday as he talked about it Thursday afternoon. Penny used to take a 45-minute bus ride to a downtown transfer station, then another 30-minute bus ride into the Heights for practices. It cost 50 cents each way and those $1 round trips were a big dent in his aunt and uncle's budget. And the games? All eight Houston Little League teams played at Canada Dry Park, just south of downtown and across I-45 from the old Fingers store. Penny, who is almost 81, paused. Things, he said, sure have changed. Well, yes. And no. A few hours later, the Post Oak Little League team that's headed to the Little League World Series gathered on the field to talk to reporters, sign autographs and enjoy the moment. Yes, they had to work their way through a much more crowded field than the 1950 team and they have more coaches, more technology and well, everything else that goes with 2018, but they're still 12-year-olds who excel at a game they love to play. And, they're the first team in Post Oak Little League history to advance to the World Series. "It's really exciting,'' said Charlie Wylie. "I mean 62 years history. No one's every done it. It's really awesome to be one of the eight teams in this country going to this tournament.'' This team has captured the hearts of old Post Oak Little Leaguers, who are telling back-in-the-day stories and posting old black-and-white photos on Facebook, and the Houston Astros. And they're working on the rest of the city. They've gone a dominating 14-0 and, with a combination of great pitching and hitting and a strong defense and they're headed to Williamsport with confidence. They're averaging 10 runs a game, giving up an average of less than one run and a game had had just two 2-run games. "It would be 19 wins for the World Series championship,'' manager David Rook said. "We talk about that a lot.'' A win would mean the third title for the Houston area. In addition to the 1950 win, the Westbury team won the 1966 title. It's an opportunity these 12-year-olds have been looking toward since they were 8. Eleven of them have played together since they were eight. Two others joined the team two years ago. Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle And even as they were posing for pictures, answering the requisite favorite questions – who's your favorite player, favorite food, superstitions, etc – and talking about Alex Bregman's tweet-out Wednesday night, Friday's visit to Minute Maid Park to watch batting practice and, oh, just being 12, the end goal was on their minds. "We all thought we could make it here,'' said Kaleb Rook. "But now that we're here, it's still stunning. Sixty three years. . ." A couple of teammates let him have it. It's 62, they said. You get it wrong every time. Yes, they're still kids. Kids whose superstitions include an ankle-bump line at the end of each game after they shake hands with their opponents, watermelon slices to celebrate (courtesy of Amy Goldstein, Ethan's mom) and one player who kisses every bat before the game. "To give us hope for dingers,'' said Wylie. And there's the baller chains that are handed out to the three stars of each game. They can only wear them until the next game. Former Kansas City and Chicago White Sox player Mark Quinn, who serves as the team's hitting coach, said this is one special team. "Their baseball IQ is extremely high,'' said Quinn, who grew up in Houston and starred at Rice. ". . . They've been in a lot of high-level competition games (select teams) outside of Little League which has ultimately prepared them for this. "They've played together and they have great chemistry. That's something we talk about -- like the Astros.'' While pitcher Ryan Selvaggi is the name so many know, Quinn said this is one true team. Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle "It's not a one- or two-man show,'' he said. "All the players contribute. We've got 13 great kids who care about each other, pull together when times get tough and they all know they have each other's back and they're not afraid to fail.'' Selvaggi throws hard and can dominate. Take Wednesday. He loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning, then struck out the next three batters to get out of the inning. Then he added a home run in the fourth. Which brings us to one important addition to the team – catcher Andy Guy. He played select teams only until two years ago when his friends urged him to try out for Post Oak. "They talked him into it,'' Quinn said. "When we picked him up, we had a true select catcher and that's when I knew the game had changed for us. Somebody has to be able to catch our guy throwing 74 to 78 (miles an hour) and he's really the one.'' A constant smile, Guy loves to catch and the team believes in him. "You get to touch the ball a lot and you're always working,'' Guy said. "You're not standing around just kicking the grass. You're getting signs, catching the ball . . . '' And settling things down. It was Guy who headed to the mound to talk to Selvaggi after those three walks. "I've worked with the pitchers a long time,'' Guy said. "I know their mechanics. (Wednesday) I just told (Selvaggi) 'You're rushing. You're doing fine. You're a great pitcher, you can get out of it.'' Wylie smiled. "We trust him a lot. He's earned it. Everything goes through him." Ironically, Penny and Billy Martin, another right-handed pitcher, were friends who beat the Heights team, then were asked to join them. Penny played at Reagan High School and Rice; Martin went to then-Davis High School. In 2015, Penny took his wife, son and daughter-in-law to Williamsport on a bucket-list trip. When he got on a bus, he saw a woman with a gold medal around her neck. He asked where she got it and she pointed to her husband. It was Martin. They were honored on the World Series field that year – the 6th anniversary of their win; the same year Pearland lost in the finals. It took that 1950 team two days to get to Williamsport on a train – they stopped in St. Louis and met Cardinals Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst -- but when they got back? "They took us down Main Street in limousines, open back cars and mayor (Oscar Holcombe) greeted us,'' he said. "It was a big deal.'' Saturday, Post Oak will fly to Newark, then bus to Williamsport. Their first game? Thursday at 7 p.m. against New England. And, yes, they'll be ready. The team is looking forward to bunking with an international team and making new friends. And, yes, getting to that magic 19. And the coaches? They've already scouted the teams via DVR and, after giving the team a few days to let their win soak in, they'll get them refocused. "Four years ago, we knew we had a special group,'' Quinn said. We're ready to find out just how special. Melanie Hauser, a former sportswriter for the Houston Post, writes a weekly column sponsored by the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority.<doc-sep>
WACO — Post Oak starting pitcher Ryan Selvaggi opened Wednesday's Little League Southwest Region title game by walking the first three Oklahoma batters he faced. His response to bases loaded and none out? Selvaggi struck out the next three batters. "He was a little nervous, a little off, but he found a groove," Post Oak manager David Rook said. "It was pretty cool." Post Oak stayed in the groove the rest of the game, with Richie Klosek hitting a two-run homer in the first inning and Selvaggi adding a solo homer in the fourth as Post Oak beat Oklahoma 8-0 to advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Post Oak will play the champion from the New England region on Aug. 16. Wednesday's shutout victory is only the sixth time an opponent has been held scoreless in the 17 years of the Southwest Region tournament. The Texas East champion has now claimed the Southwest championship and the berth in the Little League World Series six times overall in 10 trips to the title game. Pearland was the last area team to advance to Williamsport, going in 2015. The Westbury Americans are the last Houston team to win the World Series, capturing the championship in 1966. A Houston team also won the Little League World Series in 1950. Northwest 45 of Spring in 1995 and Bellaire in 2000 both lost in the title game. This will be the first World Series appearance for the Post Oak Little League, which draws players from an area roughly bounded by Piney Point/Fondren on the west, Westpark on the south, Shepherd on the east and I-10/Wescott/Fagan on the north. "We really started this three or four years ago," Rook said. "We've kind of set goals at each level, and they just continue to execute. Just another goal. This is our fourth goal of the summer, and now it's to win in Williamsport." Selvaggi pitched four innings of no-hit ball and struck out eight. Relief pitcher Carter Pitts allowed only two singles and struck out four of the nine batters he faced. Post Oak added to its early 2-0 lead with two more runs in the third inning. The first three batters all got hits, with pinch hitter Cade West hitting a two-run double. Post Oak scored its final four runs in the fourth. After Selvaggi's leadoff homer, Post Oak added three more runs on a sacrifice fly by West and a two-run single by Andrew Stover. Selvaggi was intentionally walked twice in the game. "Our 2-3-4 hitters, for sure, can go yard," Rook said. "And a couple of guys, the subs on the bench, plus our catcher has a little power as well."