Fairfield American Receives A Hero's Welcome Home

An enthusiastic crowd of about 300 turned out Thursday afternoon to welcome the Fairfield American Little League team home from Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Fans lined the sidewalk along Old Post Road anxiously awaiting the team's arrival at the Sherman Green Gazebo and loud cheers erupted when the bus pulled up to the green around 2:20 p.m.

"What we're here for is to welcome home the mighty Fairfield American New England champions," Fairfield First Selectman Ken Flatto said.

The team received a police escort from the state border and the bus was picked up by the fire department at the Fairfield town line.

First off the bus was mighty mite Nate Klein, Fairfield American's '4-foot-9, 73-pound third baseman who became something of a folk hero in Williamsport. The cheers grew louder as the players departed the bus.

The team members were treated like celebrities as they posed for pictures and were escorted by town officials to the gazebo, where a few of them spoke to the crowd.

"I'd like to thank all the fans for coming to the stadiums to cheer us on," ace pitcher Nick Nardone said. "I like to thank all the coaches for devoting all their time.

"Thanks to all the moms and dads for driving us to all the practices and the brothers and sisters for cheering us on."

Attending Thursday's welcome-home celebration were Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Fairfield state senator John McKinney and Fairfield state representative Tony Hwang.

The team's first fan - Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell - offered her congratulations.

"The Fairfield Little League made us all proud with their tremendous season," she said in a statement released by the governor's office. "The players represented our state with great heart and sportsmanship. Congratulations to each and every one of them and to their coaches and parents who committed so much of their time to make sure the youngsters had a summer that they will remember for years to come."

 Fairfield American manager Chris Daley was absent Thursday because he was performing parental duties. He was in Baltimore dropping off older son Ryan, who is beginning his  freshman year at Johns Hopkins University.

Assistant Larry Klein was the only coach on the bus, which left Williamsport shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday.

"It was a great ride and the best part of it was all of you," said Klein, addressing the crowd. "All you guys showing up in Bristol (for the New England Regionals) and Williamsport meant a lot to us."

Fairfield American became the first team from Fairfield to play in the LLWS in the 64-year history of the event.

"All the other kids came up to us and they knew our names, asked us for autographs," Nardone said. "It was a really great time."

"I think they got a sense of what it's like to be a celebrity, which you don't normally get at the age of 12 or the age of 13," Larry Klein added.
 
Eddie Magi, the father of pitcher Eddie Magi who won two games in the New England Regionals, called it a once in a  lifetime experience.

"My son, as soon as he got there, he called me and said, 'Dad, I made it to the Bigs,'" the elder Magi said.

"The boys were treated like they were professional baseball players," assistant coach Brian McGrath added. "They had the time of their lives, and we had a great time as families and friends watching them."

For the McGraths, one of thrills of the experience was meeting former Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra since theirs is a family of Boston fans. Garciaparra is one of ESPN's broadcasters in Williamsport.

"It was a little bit surreal to have Nomar Garciaparra and Bobby Valentine (also broadcasting for ESPN) talking about your children," McGrath said. "In the McGrath house, we're all big Red Sox fans and (son) Billy's older brothers said they couldn't believe all their boyhood idols are talking about their brother playing baseball."

Fairfield American went 1-2 in Williamsport. After beating Auburn, Washington, 3-1, last Friday in the series opener, it lost to Pearland, 14-1 on Sunday.

However, Fairfield American went down fighting in a 9-5 elimination loss to Auburn on Tuesday night, twice pulling within one run.

"I thought the kids would be a little bit more intimidated by the crowd and TV," Larry Klein said. "I didn't get that sense. Win or loss, it wasn't because they were on a big stage. I just think in some cases we got out-played. I think going through the regionals really prepared them for life like this on a baseball field."

Now the players can look forward to a bigger celebration on Saturday, when the town will stage a parade in their honor beginning at the library at 2 p.m. The team also will receive a key to the town from Flatto.

"I can't wait," Nardone said.

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