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CNN Saturday Morning News
Russian Little League team Makes World Series
Aired August 16, 2003 - 07:48 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.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, everybody, it is time once again for America's kids to gather in Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the Little League World Series.
But as Jill Dougherty reports, baseball isn't just an American pastime anymore.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Russians are coming to the Little League World Series. Fresh from acing the All European championships, Moscow's Khovrino team will be back in Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the third time. Quite a feat for a country where baseball didn't even exist a little over 15 years ago.
Most Russians still have never heard of it. But kids like Jene (ph), the team's pitcher, have big dreams.
JENE: I want to get into the Major Leagues, Atlanta Braves.
DOUGHERTY: The dream paid off for Oleg Korneyev, who signed with the Seattle Mariners.
OLEG KORNEYEV, FORMER RUSSIAN LITTLE LEAGUER: Right now I see a lot of kids' teams getting better, like kids playing much more higher levels and when I play.
DOUGHERTY: Being a Little League parent in Russia takes dedication. Some of them are learning the game along with their kids. Equipment is hard to find and expensive. Some is donated by American and European teams. The parents now are looking for funding for a new stadium. When it's not snowing, the boys practice three to four hours a day, five days a week.
Baseball may still be a foreign word for most Russians, but these Little Leaguers are giving the competition a run for its money.
Jill Dougherty, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 16, 2003 - 07:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THOMAS ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, everybody, it is time once again for America's kids to gather in Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the Little League World Series.
But as Jill Dougherty reports, baseball isn't just an American pastime anymore.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Russians are coming to the Little League World Series. Fresh from acing the All European championships, Moscow's Khovrino team will be back in Williamsport, Pennsylvania for the third time. Quite a feat for a country where baseball didn't even exist a little over 15 years ago.
Most Russians still have never heard of it. But kids like Jene (ph), the team's pitcher, have big dreams.
JENE: I want to get into the Major Leagues, Atlanta Braves.
DOUGHERTY: The dream paid off for Oleg Korneyev, who signed with the Seattle Mariners.
OLEG KORNEYEV, FORMER RUSSIAN LITTLE LEAGUER: Right now I see a lot of kids' teams getting better, like kids playing much more higher levels and when I play.
DOUGHERTY: Being a Little League parent in Russia takes dedication. Some of them are learning the game along with their kids. Equipment is hard to find and expensive. Some is donated by American and European teams. The parents now are looking for funding for a new stadium. When it's not snowing, the boys practice three to four hours a day, five days a week.
Baseball may still be a foreign word for most Russians, but these Little Leaguers are giving the competition a run for its money.
Jill Dougherty, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
