Journey To Little League World Series 15 Years In The Making

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — The Santa Margarita All Stars have spent their first days in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in a flurry of meetings, interviews, rock star introductions and gifts of gloves, bats, balls and new uniforms.

Back at home, families and fans have done just about everything possible to get there to watch them in the parade through the town the day before their initial game. Mother Kourtney Rutter, together with her older sons Shane and Ryan, took the red-eye from LAX to land in Newark, New Jersey, at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. The three drove the rest of the way to Williamsport, for pre Little League World Series festivities.

“We were delirious when we got to our hotel,” Kourtney said. A few hours sleep before meeting up with the Santa Margarita All Stars team. She could sleep knowing that her husband, Joe Rutter, has been with their Little League ballplayer, Drew, during every leg of his stellar post-season. Back in Orange County, Kourtney had other details to attend to. Finding flights, someone to watch the family dogs, a way to coordinate relatives and other details so she could watch her son’s Little League dreams come true.

A Little League Worlds Series 15 Years in the Making

Both of his older brothers played Little League from age 5- to about 12- or 13-years-old. For 13-year-old Drew, this is his golden year. The year when anything could happen. According to Kourtney, it wasn’t until the end of Drew’s season last year when his parents realized this team had something special.

Drew started playing t-ball at the age of 5. Between the three boys, Kourtney and her husband Joe have attended Little League games for 15 years without a break.

“Drew’s the third kid, he goes with the flow, he's taking it in stride,” she said. “(The Santa Margarita All Stars) did so well, and kept most of their team together from the 2016 season."

Last year, they made it far in the season, winning sectionals, and playing at regionals, where they won two games and then lost. The All Star team played together until end of July, 2016.

"I had a feeling that it could happen this year, that when they were 12-years-old, they would kill it," Kourtney said. After 15 years in the bleachers, both Kourtney and Joe knew there was something special happening. But the reality is still sinking in.

Seeing Drew helped.

"We made it to Williamsport on time to get to the stadium and witness the opening ceremonies at 11 a.m., East Coast time," Kourtney said. After the parade, the families had time to hang out and enjoy the downtown Williamsport lifestyle.

"We had lunch, we're reconnecting," she said. "Drew has been with his team for two straight weeks. They checked into the dorms in San Bernardino two weeks ago. We've missed him, and he's really missed his brothers. I had like 500 questions for him!"

So far, the Little League World Series has far exceeded their expectations.

"The kids have been treated like rock stars. The got brand uniforms, new gloves, bats, hats, they've had interviews with ESPN and done taping for highlights about each kid," Kourtney laughed, voice tinged with amazement.

Staying Focused...

Keeping the boys focused, that's the manager's job. According to Kourtney, their manager has been with the team for over three years, between All Stars and Travel Ball.

"At practice, they are in full on practice mode," she said. "The boys stay serious, they learn a lot, and he knows how to keep them focused. Gives them a break when they need a break, but over all, the kids are focused."

On the field, they are eating and breathing baseball, but their coach knows when it's time to let off steam. The dorm is filled an arcade room, ping-pong tables. Like other 12 and 13-year-olds, they take breaks and hang out, they text and watch YouTube. They prepare to be on nationally televised broadcasts in front of millions.

Recalling the last game for the West, the crowd's roar, the excitement, the pressure, she wanted to know how her son handled it.

"I asked Drew, do you hear all of them cheering? But he told me he just tunes it out, he tries to think of it like a regular little league game at Tijeras Creek," she said.

Now she prepares for another game, not in the bleachers but in the Lamade Stadium.

"Every game with this team has been a nail biter," she laughed. "We could've been out in District, in every tournament, but the kids know how to battle back. They pull it out. They are so excited. And so are we."

Photos, courtesy Kourtney Rutter