VANCOUVER. – For Canada’s Little League World Series baseball team, ice cream became part of the game plan. “It actually helped us. Like, it kind of motivates us sometimes,” said outfielder Daniel Huang in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where the tournament is held annually. It’s a tradition manager Brad Dorwart started back when the team from Vancouver Little Mountain was trying to win its way to provincials. Frustrated with their lack of scoring, he offered to purchase ice cream anytime they could put up four runs. When the team won, he bought, and the tradition hasn’t stopped. “So far, it’s cost me 140 bucks,” Dorwart laughed. “I don’t mind paying that.” The players have since turned “We want ice cream!” into a dugout rallying cry. “We just start the chant… that gets everyone fired up,” said outfielder Lucas Izen. “Our entire energy goes up and we just start getting hits, (and) score more runs,” added Huang. The sweet incentive may have helped fuel the team to Canada’s best showing at the tournament since 1998, despite a ‘rocky road’ in their tournament opener. Vancouver opened their world series with a 7-0 loss to South Korea. The Canadian kids were nervous, Dorwart acknowledged, “They’re playing on probably the nicest fields they’ve ever played on, the TV coverage.” ‘We’re living a dream’ Izen said the game experience is hard to describe. “It’s just like, so nice. The grass smells great.” Huang has been savouring every minute. “We’re living a dream. It’s awesome.” Canada bounced back with a shutout victory over Australia and then a dramatic extra-inning win over Panama. The Canadians then stunned South Korea in a rematch, earning a spot among the final four teams on the international side of the tournament, before a disappointing loss to Japan on Wednesday ended the dream run. The Vancouver players say they have felt the support of everyone back home. “I’ve gotten a lot of messages from friends and family saying like, ‘Wow, you’re playing really well, congratulations,’” Huang said. Dorwart said the team was playing for the many people in British Columbia who have been affected by wildfires. “Our hearts are still back there,” he said. “There’s some huge devastation going on back home.” Despite being knocked out of the tournament, the team will soon return to B.C. with their heads held high – it’s the best finish by Canada at the Little League World Series since 1998. And there will likely be ice cream along the way.
