Despite loss at Little League World Series, coach says team made North Dakota proud

WILLIAMSPORT, P.A. — The scoreboard didn’t tell the real story in Williamsport.

The kids from North Dakota were winners anyway. Friday, Aug. 18.

The Fargo Youth Baseball team was the last team in the 20 team tournament to take the field.

Even though they didn’t come out on top, Coach Hanson said North Dakota should be proud.

After the game, the team was greeted by a loud roar from the few dozen parents and friends who made the 1,200-mile trip to Williamsport.

Hanson said despite having a full week off, the boys were never nervous. They were having fun and just being themselves.

Usually the team may draw 100 fans back in Fargo. Thirteen-thousand fans were in the seats at the historic Howard J. Lamade Stadium to watch Fargo play a little league team from Texas. Coach pointed out they are used to playing in front of maybe 100 people.

“I was blocking them out. That atmosphere and everybody there was amazing, just felt like, ‘Oh my gosh we’re here. Everybody’s eyes are on you,’” said starting pitcher Cash Martinez.

“We’ll just get the kids to keep on enjoying this experience, to be quite honest with you,” Hanson said after the game. “Our goals as coaches make sure they’re good kids, enjoy this experience and get better as a kid, get better as a person, that’s our goal as coaches.”

The team will play either a little league team from Nevada or Ohio on Sunday in the elimination bracket.

Coach Hanson said he’s not sure what the team will do on Saturday other than take some batting practice.

Matt Henson is an Emmy award-winning reporter/photographer/editor for WDAY. Prior to joining WDAY in 2019, Matt was the main anchor at WDAZ in Grand Forks for four years. He was born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia and attended college at Lyndon State College in northern Vermont, where he was recognized twice nationally, including first place, by the National Academy for Arts and Science for television production. Matt enjoys being a voice for the little guy. He focuses on crimes and courts and investigative stories. Just as often, he shares tear-jerking stories and stories of accomplishment. Matt enjoys traveling to small towns across North Dakota and Minnesota to share their stories. He can be reached at mhenson@wday.com and at 610-639-9215. When he’s not at work (rare) Matt resides in Moorhead and enjoys spending time with his daughter, golfing and attending Bison and Sioux games.