LAKE MARY, Fla. – The Lake Mary Little League will play Texas in the U.S. Championship of the Little League World Series on Saturday, and their hometown is ready to celebrate them.
Next Saturday, the city will host a parade on 4th Street, calling it a “once in a lifetime” celebration.
News 6 spoke with city officials Friday as soon as the plans were finalized and made public.
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Bryan Nipe, the director of Economic Development, Parks & Recreation, said they’ve been working on this celebration for months.
“We already had our girls softball win states, and we already had some big energy there, and the boys kept going. We knew something big was happening,” Nipe said.
The city says the parade to honor the team, their coaches and families will start at 10 a.m. It will include a procession of vehicles, mascots and a marching band.
“We wanted to do it right,” Nipe said. “We’ll have the boys being led by professional mascots from the Magic and others, as well as the Lake Mary High band, some bagpipes, honor guard. “It’s going to be a great time and they’ll end where our farmers market is and there will be a big party to celebrate afterward.”
The downtown area is just down the street from the sports complex where the boys have grown up playing baseball.
Mayor David Mealor says it’s been exciting to see the community come together to support this team.
“I am getting comments from literally across the country about the success of this remarkable team and their run to the World Series championship,” Mealor said.
Mealor recalled when Apopka’s team made it to the Little League World Series 23 years ago. He says he will never forget that parade, and he hopes the boys playing for Lake Mary now will have the same experience.
“You’ve done such remarkable teamwork. That’s the key. It’s been teamwork, great pitching, great key hitting at the right moment in time,” Mealor said. “Regardless of the outcome, know something right now this will stay with you the rest of your life and you’ve already won.”
The Lake Mary All-Stars will play against Texas in the U.S. Championship on Saturday, August 24, 2024. The game starts at 3:30 p.m.
News 6 will plan on carrying the parade celebration on Aug. 31 both on air and ClickOrlando.com.
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