NEW CASTLE -
It has been a long time since the community of New Castle has had something to stand up and cheer, for but it certainly has a team to rally around now.
New Castle's Little League team is playing in the World Series. The little boys of summer are teaching the big boys a thing or two along the way.
You could call this Indiana's baseball version of Hoosiers. An eighth seed is now one of the top Little League teams in the world, playing in the Little League World Series. Everyone in this town of 19,000 is excited for their young baseball stars.
Jack's Doughnuts can't keep Great Lakes doughnuts in stock. Jack Marcom says he's never seen anything like it.
"Never have. I don't think anyone has in this town. Everyone is going crazy," said Marcom.
They can't print enough T-shirts at Professional Designs, but it only tells part of the story of Danny Smeken's team, Danny's Dream.
"He passed away last year of cancer and this was his dream to go to the Little League World Series so all those boys he has coach for many years. We are doing it for him too," said Donna Hardwick, Professional Designs.
In fact, Danny's son Cayden hit a game-winning home run to get the team there.
"Bryce Pinkard, a twelve-year-old, woke up in the middle of the night and got his family out of a burning house. We have hero story after hero story on this team," said Mike McKown, New Castle Little League.
Then you have the town that loves them.
"They never give up. We feel like that is a good attitude to replicate in our community," said Lee Grear, Office Source.
"Since Chrysler left years ago this town has shrunk. This is an awesome opportunity for our town to be in the national spotlight," said McKown.
New Castle is setting up an outdoor viewing spectacular for residents to come and celebrate their team and their town.
"We don't know if 500 or 5,000 people will be here tonight but it is an awesome opportunity to showcase New Castle," said McKown.
Twelve 11- and 12-year-olds showing their town and their state that adversity is only an opportunity to show what you are really made of.
Hardwick says it's a lot of "hope and a lot of recognition. We've had a lot of job losses in this area and this is a happy time for everybody."
She calls the boys on the team "dedicated, good students, good role models."
The boys are missing the first week of school, but the district sent laptop computers along with them so they don't fall behind in the classroom.
Little League World Series
Professional Designs has printed over 500 T-shirts commemorating the occasion.
Donna Hardwick, Professional Designs
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