15 August 2014, Cumberland, USA
Hey. Everybody, heads up high, heads up high. Let's talk for a moment here. I got to see your eyes, guys. There's no disappointment in your effort, in the whole tournament and the whole season. It's been an incredible journey. We fought. Look at the score eight to seven, 12 to 10 in hits, came to the last out. We didn't quit. That's us. Boys, that's us.
The only reason why I'll probably end up shedding a tear is because this is the last time I'm going to end up coaching you guys. I'm going to bring back with me, and the coaching staff is going to bring back with me, you guys are going to bring back something that no one other team can provide, but you guys. That's pride. Pride.
You're going to take that for the rest of your life, what you provided for our town in Cumberland. You had the whole place jumping. You had the whole state jumping. You had New England jumping. You had ESPN jumping. Want to know why? They like fighters. They like sportsmen. They like guys who don't quit. They like guys who play the game the right way.
If everyone would play baseball like the Cumberland Americans, this would be the greatest game. This would be the greatest game. The lessons you guys have learned along the journey, you're never going to forget, but we're going to have some more fun. We've got two more days of fun. You guys earned that right to have a lot of fun. When you walk around this ballpark in the next couple of days, they're going to look at you and say, "Hey, guys, you guys were awesome."
I'm not going to have to tell you, because everybody has said you guys are awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Absolutely awesome. We're going to enjoy the next two days because we deserve it. We've been going since the 12th, and we're going to enjoy it. It's okay to cry, because we're not going to play baseball together anymore, but we're going to be friends forever. Friends forever. Our Little League careers have ended on the most positive note that could ever be. Ever be.
There's only going to be one team that's going to walk out of here, guys, World Series champions. Only one. Only one. We got down to the nitty-gritty. We're one of the best teams in the world. Think about that for a second. For the world. We need to go see our parents because they're so proud of you.
Now, one more. I want a big hug. I want everyone to come in here for one big hug. One big hug. One big hug. Then, we're going to go celebrate. Hey, boys, then we're going to go celebrate it with our parents, and then tomorrow, we're going to celebrate and then we're going to come back home to a big parade, okay? Got it?
Players: Yes, coach.
Dave Belisle: love you, guys. I'm going to love you forever. You've given me the most precious moment of my athletic and coaching career, and I've been coaching a long time. A long time. I'm getting to be an old man. I need memories like this. I need kids like this. You're all my boys. You'll be the boys of summer. For the last time, we're going to try to suck it up, and we're going to yell, "Americans." One, two, three.
Players: Americans!
Dave Belisle: Okay, boys, good job. Let's go. Time to go.