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American Morning

Boys from Florida Lose to Tokyo Team

Aired August 27, 2001 - 09:23   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We begin our "Look Across America" with the nation's number one baseball fan, who threw the first pitch at the Little League World Series Championship in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania this weekend. That's where we begin today's "Look Across America." After the ceremonial pitch, President Bush went to the stands to cheer for the team from Apopka, Florida, which faced a squad from Tokyo, Japan. But the boys from Florida lost in a final-inning rally by the Tokyo team.

Melanie Duvall from Central Florida News 13 has this report from Apopka.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELANIE DUVALL, NEWS 13 REPORTER (voice-over): It wasn't the ending Central Florida had hoped for. After being kept scoreless the entire game, in the bottom of the last inning, Japan scored two runs that gave them the world championship. After the game, the Apopka All-Stars were understandably disappointed.

BOB BREWER, APOPKA MANAGER: We came here as a team, and we're going to go home as a team. We won the U.S. title, and this was a great opportunity for us and our people back home in the central Florida area. Kids played hard, played great. Just in pitched his guts out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Makes me feel so good that we even got here. We played a great game, and you know, we just came out on the bottom. That's how some games go.

DUVALL: Friends, family and friends watching at the Carlton Center in Apopka took the loss just as hard, but say there is still reason for celebration.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are so very proud of them, and not just for their accomplishments on the field. I mean, you look at them and they are just wonderful kids all around. Their parents and coaches have so much to be proud of, and we couldn't be more proud of having them in our community.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What more can you say about the kids? It's great. They brought the United States together and the nation together, the United States. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's unbelievable what's happened here in Apopka. I mean, they're are signs all over the place. It's phenomenal.

DUVALL: The boys will bring home a national championship. But more than that, they've given the city of Apopka a summer to remember, and maybe even a new nickname.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think this should be the baseball capital of the world now.

(LAUGHTER)

In Apopka, Melody Duval, Central Florida News 13.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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