SANTA CLARA — As Glenda Reid was conducting tours of the historic Jacob Hamblin House in Santa Clara, she had another piece of history on her mind being made by some local youngsters on the other side of the country.
The Santa Clara boys and girl of summer, the Snow Canyon Little League all-stars, are playing this weekend at the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania – the first team from Utah to ever reach the 75-year-old baseball tradition.
From the historic Hamblin House to historic Williamsport, the sister with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was among several Santa Clara residents sending their support to the team, which begins its World Series journey on Friday.
“Baseball has always been big in Santa Clara. This has been a big deal for this little community and the community supports them,” Reid said between conducting tours at the home built upon a hill for the pioneer in 1863. “When you consider this little small community and how far this team has gone, that’s amazing.”
Also on both Reid’s and fellow tour guide Debbie Rate’s minds, they said, was Snow Canyon player Easton Oliverson, who continues to recover after falling from the top of a dormitory bunk bed at the World Series site in Pennsylvania and undergoing surgery for severe head injuries.
“We’re praying for him,” Rate said with a beaming smile. “We’re praying for that young man.”
Plenty of Santa Clara residents and signage around town expressed the pride Santa Clara has for its young players, such as the sign outside Dutchman Market proclaims, “SC Little League wins. Headed to World Series.”
Residents at Freis Fruit Market mostly kept to picking the fresh-from-the-farm produce. But Jo, a cashier at the market wanted to pass along some nutritional advice to the young baseball players. “Fresh fruits and vegetables,” she said.
The Snow Canyon Little League field itself on Little League Drive was quiet Monday afternoon. The bases were still in place and the dirt infield combed, while its players remain 2,231 miles away preparing for their chance at glory.
That glory is going to have them on the same ESPN worldwide channel that usually shows the play of their heroes like Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, Manny Machado and Clayton Kershaw.
While the players that make up Snow Canyon come from the Santa Clara, Ivins and St. George area, the commentators will say that the team is from Santa Clara.
While that is a source of pride for Santa Clara Mayor Rick Rosenberg, the mayor also said he takes a lot of pride in the kids that will represent it and Southern Utah. He also said not to forget the parents and grown-ups who make their own sacrifices.
“I can’t wait until they play again on Friday,” Rosenberg said, adding that success isn’t something new for the local little league. “Snow Canyon Little League has enjoyed tremendous success over the years thanks to dedicated individuals who donate their time and resources to the players.”
Politicians with higher authority also passed along the well-wishes including Gov. Spencer Cox in several Twitter posts, as well as Sen. Mitt Romney, who said it was that little bit of Utah that put the Snow Canyon kids into the elite.
“You know, we’ve got great athletes here. Great energy, great passion, teamwork, sacrifice, dedication, all of these qualities come together to make Utahns some of the best athletes in the world,” Romney told St. George News. “I’m not surprised to see our Utah athletes going to the championship. That’s going to be fantastic.”
Also giving a “shoutout” on Twitter was Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, who actually expressed a little jealousy at his fellow athletes from Santa Clara. “I always wanted to play in the Little League World Series,” he said. “This is dope.”
Santa Clara’s Snow Canyon all-stars will make their World Series debut Friday at 1 p.m. MDT against the winner of a Wednesday game between Tennessee and Massachusetts.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help pay the expenses of the families of the 13 players to travel to Williamsport to see their kids play. Little League International is already paying for the travel expenses and providing lodging for the team’s players and coaches. The team is also selling hats and T-shirts with at least some proceeds going to the team, their families and to the medical expenses for Oliverson.
From her place at a historic site, Reid said she hopes the team takes in the historic nature of their accomplishment and their surroundings.
“I hope they take a little time, look at some of the history, enjoy the experience of getting to go that far,” she said.
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St. George News reporter Mori Kessler contributed to this story.
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