It’s been 20 years since a group of big-for-their age 12- and 13-year-old kids from Langley went all the way to the world little league championships in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
On Aug. 26, almost all of the players are expected to return to Langley City for an anniversary celebration.
Coach Dave Mihalech said the organizers of the 20th anniversary reunion managed to track down just about everybody.
“We had to go as far away as Dubai,” Mihalech told the Times.
One person has passed away and one could not be located, he said.
In 1998, the Preston Langley All Stars, a group of f14 boys went on a record-setting three-month run, starting with wins at the districts, provincials, and Canadians in Cape Breton to become the first Langley team to ever qualify for the Little League World Series (LLWS).
Known as the “boys of summer,” the team set a Canadian record by going undefeated in their first 19 games, including three straight wins at the World Series only to suffer a double extra-inning 3-2 loss to Japan in the international final.
Their record still stands as the best performance by a Canadian team in the modern fully-international era.
Two days after their return from the world series, their accomplishment was celebrated with the biggest civic parade in the history of Langley.
While many of the players did turn pro when they were older, “none of them made a million playing ball,” Mihalech said.
“(But) they all matured into fine young men.”
Mihalech said the public is welcome to attend the Sunday Aug. 26 get-together at the Langley City park ball diamonds and picnic shelter.
“Since a potluck picnic was too complicated to organize, if you want to eat or drink, it’s a bring-your-own beverage and food event,” Mihalech said.
The players and their coach will be at the ball diamond around 3 p.m.
The picnic starts at 4 p.m.
READ MORE: 1998 All-Stars coach can’t resist Williamsport
READ ALSO: B.C. team stays alive in 2018 Little League World Series after another nail-biter
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
