The Magic Lives On

It was a summer of magic. Baseball magic. In 2002, a dozen young boys from west Fort Worth lived every pre-teen baseball player's dream. They played in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn. While most of the players from that team have gone on to success in various sports at their respective high schools -- one is even playing college baseball -- that summer of a little more than five years ago changed them forever. "There's nothing that can take the place of when I was 12," said Mark Grace, the team's left fielder and now the starting quarterback for the Arlington Heights football team as a junior. "I have a shrine in my room. "I still have kids from Westside Little League come up to me and ask about then. I tell them they can accomplish their dreams if they want them bad enough." That summer almost ended as soon as it began. The team had to rally through the losers bracket to win its district championship. Later, in regionals, they were on the verge of elimination, trailing Arkansas 5-4 before rallying late for a 7-5 victory. "You've got to believe." Those were some of the last words Nolan Catholic junior quarterback Robert Ratliff heard his father, who would soon die of cancer, say that summer. His father, Bobby, helped coach the team until he got too sick to do so. Still, he served as an inspiration to the team on its way to Williamsport. His name was on their hats, and the team's motto became "Let's do it for Bobby." "The last memories of my dad are him being well enough to go to Williamsport," said Ratliff, Westside's first baseman. "If I could go back to age 12, I'd do it in a second." Probably the most notable name from the group is Arlington Heights pitcher Walker Kelly. He is 27-0 through three years of high school, has signed early with TCU, and will likely be taken in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft in June. "I credit a lot to that summer," Kelly said. "It was the start of me devoting so much time to baseball. "It kick-started my pitching. Before then I was an average pitcher. That summer made me realize I could pitch at a high level." Few levels are as high as the U.S. semifinals in the Little League World Series. It was there that Kelly and Aaron Alvey from Kentucky staged a pitchers' battle for the ages. Westside lost 2-1 in 11 innings as Kelly struck out 21 batters and Alvey 19. "It was heartbreaking," said Grace. "They had those two late home runs, and it came down to us in the bottom of the 11th. We had two on, but just couldn't pull it out." Grace's dad, John, was a successful college pitcher, helping the TCU Horned Frogs win a share of the 1972 Southwest Conference title. He threw the only perfect game in TCU history. But none of that compares to being a part of his son achieving something most young boys only dream of. "I can say that it was the greatest of all my athletic experiences," said John Grace. "This was by far the most exciting set of events that I have ever been a part of. "The highlight was the night in Waco and we beat [Sugarland] on ESPN to win the regional championship and the right to go to Williamsport." As they had done before, Westside rallied from the losers bracket, having lost to Sugarland. Kelly said his father, John, the team's manager, credited a portion of their success to "the baseball gods. But then, whether it's Bill Buckner letting a grounder go through his legs against the New York Mets or the Yankees blowing a 3-0 lead against those same Red Sox almost two decades later, good teams can often point to a little luck for their accomplishments. "Things just seemed to work out for us always, and we took advantage of them," said Kelly. "The summer of '02 was a profound gift of learning and growth for me and Jack," said Bryant Huckabay, father of Arlington Heights senior basketball player Jack Huckabay, an outfielder and third baseman for Westside. "The village of Williamsport rivaled Gettysburg in its feeling of historic significance. The festivities and national notoriety surrounding the games were the stuff of Jack's dreams, and later his English essays. For both of us it was a week of retreat from the real world into the mythic culture of our national pastime." For everyone involved, the LLWS was more than playing baseball. It was also a chance to make good friends with other youths from half a world away, as Westside shared a dormitory with the Japanese all-stars. "We stayed up late talking to the Japanese kids," said Ratliff. "They taught us some Japanese and we taught them some English. "I called one the other day and he remembered me. That was cool." When they returned home, the team was treated like superstars. They were not only Fort Worth's heroes, but statewide and throughout the southern region as well. The experience helped them not only in their junior high and high school sports pursuits, but in other aspects of life. "You can imagine being on national TV and hitting against Aaron Alvey after he had struck out 19 people," said Mark Grace. "I think it gave me a lot of mental strength. I don't press myself as much these days, not just in sports, but in everyday life." Now, as they pursue success in high school and college, their thoughts go back daily to that summer. It was a time they will reflect upon until the day they go on to play baseball at a level beyond anything here on earth. "I'm very lucky. I was born in a great year to be with those guys," said Ratliff. "We 12 dreamed of going to the Little League World Series and nothing was going to stop us. "If I ever have a son, I'm taking him to Williamsport. It would be fantastic if he got to go in the same fashion I did." Where they are now: Walker Kelly, pitcher: Is 27-0 in his high school career pitching for Arlington Heights...has signed with TCU and could sign a major league contract after his upcoming senior season...led Arlington Heights to the 4A State Tournament in 2006. Mikey Valdez, catcher: Was the catcher on the 2006 state semifinalist team for Arlington Heights...currently at Texas Wesleyan and playing baseball. Robert Ratliff, first base: Is the starting quarterback on the Nolan Catholic football team...led area private schools in many passing categories this past season...led Nolan to the state finals in 2007, passing for 2,006 yards and 21 touchdowns. Mitchell Belew, third base: Plays on the Arlington Heights baseball team. Patton Eagle, shortstop: Plays for Country Day. Rand Ravnass, center field: Plays at All Saints....also played football at All Saints and led the area in receiving for private schools with 40 catches for 1,038 yards and 13 TD...will play baseball at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Mark Grace, left field: Plays baseball and football at Arlington Heights...starting quarterback for Heights, was in the top 10 in passing for area 4A teams with 1,192 yards and 12 TD. Robby Lebus, outfield: Plays football and baseball at Country Day. Jack Huckabay, outfield/third base: Starts at center for the Arlington Heights basketball team. Chris Rivera, catcher: Started out playing baseball at Arlington Heights. Is no longer playing baseball. Jeffery VanDerHamm, second base: Started out playing baseball at Arlington Heights. No longer is playing. Chester Hamilton, outfield: Plays at Country Day.