Aug. 22: Coon Rapids' storybook tale ends

By Chris Masse, Special to the Star Tribune

Last update: August 24, 2007 - 11:22 PM

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA. -- Coon Rapids National Little League team's historic summer run came to an end Wednesday at Lamade Stadium.

Chandler, Ariz., defeated Coon Rapids 9-2 in the final U.S. pool play game at the Little League Baseball World Series.

Arizona advanced to the U.S. semifinals while Coon Rapids closed out its season with an 18-5 mark.

Coon Rapids was trying to become the first Midwest team to reach the U.S. semifinals since the Series field expanded to 16 teams in 2001.

"Like I told the kids, we are in Little League Baseball heaven," Coon Rapids coach Mark Lowe said. "We have spent basically the last five weeks with these kids and watching these kids grow up, watching them forgive each other's shortcomings and coming together as a team, as a coach, as a parent; it's an extremely special thing that we get to carry with us the rest of our lives."

That Coon Rapids reached the final U.S. pool play game at the Little League World Series with a chance to advance to the U.S. semifinals speaks volumes about this resilient team.

Coon Rapids National had to rally to make it out of districts after losing an early playoff game to Coon Rapids American. It then overcame losses at both the state and Midwest Regional tournaments to reach the World Series for the first time.

"The run we've had, the fun we've had, the friendships we've built, the bond that we've got for the rest of our lives -- it's wonderful," Mark Lowe said. "I told them, 'Guys hold your heads high, walk around this place the next few days and enjoy it. You are champions.' "

For a while Wednesday it looked as if Coon Rapids might extend its playing time. Dominique Reff doubled in the first inning and scored on Tanner Lowe's two-out RBI single, giving Coon Rapids a 1-0 lead.

An inning later Adam Reck-siedler, who pitched four strong innings, ripped a one-out double. Tyler Kelm ran for Recksiedler, went to third on Lucas Peterson's ground out and scored on a wild pitch.

With the score tied 2-2, Arizona blew the game open in the fifth inning after Recksiedler came out. The West champions scored five runs with two outs.

Mark Lowe said he and the team will stay at the Little League World Series through Sunday's championship. They will arrive home Mondayand be escorted to The Mall of America, where a party will be held in their honor. Two days later a parade will be held in Coon Rapids, celebrating the team's accomplishments.

"The community, the state, the e-mails we've gotten from around the upper Midwest and throughout the whole country has been wonderful," Mark Lowe said. "This experience for these kids is just something else."

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