Roadrunner Little League All-Stars make history as they head to regionals

No matter what happens next, Roadrunner Little League already owns a little slice of history.

Facing a 3-0 deficit against perennial powerhouse Carlsbad in the deciding game of the state baseball tournament in the Majors division, Roadrunner staged an improbable, two-out, five-run rally in the sixth inning to advance to this week’s regionals in Waco, Texas. Perhaps even more impressive was the fact that Roadrunner faced an uphill battle in the bracket after losing to Carlsbad earlier in the tournament.

“I was very, very happy. And I didn’t really believe that we could do it, because we were down two games and Carlsbad had these really tall kids,” said Roadrunner first baseman Harry Brunton “ … When we finally beat them, I couldn’t handle all the emotions. I didn’t think we were gonna do it. And we’re the first team to go to Waco.”

Ah yes, the first. That’s where the history part comes into play. On July 19, Roadrunner became the first team in the league’s nearly 60-year existence to win a Little League Baseball Division State Championship.

Usually, it’s Carlsbad and Albuquerque Eastdale representing the Land of Enchantment. Roadrunner was more than happy to play the role of upstart, but according to manager Joe Garcia, this coronation was a few years in the making.

“I think we’ve been kind of working toward this for three years,” he said. “The vast majority of this team has been playing together for a good amount of time. Great league, great bunch of kids. I think we all had our sights set on Waco the whole time.”

The next leg of the journey will begin in South Texas against the Louisiana representative. The game will be televised on Thursday at 3 p.m. on the Longhorn Network, which is available on the ESPN App via subscription through an affiliated video service provider. Other teams in the field represent Texas (East and West), Mississippi, Colorado, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

If Roadrunner can win its bracket, it advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Pretty heady stuff for a group of (mostly) 11- and 12-year-olds.

“I’m really excited because it’s gonna be a better challenge, and I’m just really excited to go to Waco,” said third baseman Tyriano Martinez-Cordova.

Nerves could be a factor for a group that is new to the scene, but ultimately, the hope is the butterflies will fade as the game gets underway.

“I’ve talked to some friends that have been to Waco and have played last year,” Brunton said. “And they said it is a little bit nerve-racking, but once you just get into the game, you get into the baseball and you kind of stop worrying.”

Garcia touts overall lineup depth as a strength for Roadrunner, but perhaps more importantly, the team has demonstrated the chemistry necessary for success.

“Our personalities (make the team special),” said second baseman Brycen Rogillio. “Some people are quiet, and some people are very talkative. It’s a good mix.”

As far as actual preparation, there’s not much to be done in terms of scouting. Garcia says he will review some footage of Roadrunner opponents through the GameChanger app, which features live streaming and scorekeeping. But that can only go so far.

“You can’t get a whole lot of it,” Garcia said. “When you get to this point, everybody’s a good team. It’s who can hit the ball and throw a bunch of strikes. Who wants it the most? With this group, honestly, I like my chances.”

Regardless of what the week holds, Roadrunner Little League has already accomplished the unprecedented. Everything else is just a bonus.

“Roadrunner’s been here for, like, 60 years,” Rogillio said. “It just feels like you made really big history.”