BOERNE, Texas — With a population count of fewer than 20,000 residents, Boerne is a small town. But this week it's showing just how big its youth baseball talent is.
The San Antonio-area community's team of all-stars is tearing through the competition at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., where they have won three straight games to put them on the cusp of a Little League World Series Championship berth. The last time a Texas team did that was 2017, when Lufkin lost in the tournament final to Tokyo-Kitasuna.
And from more than 1,700 miles away, their neighbors and classmates in Boerne are rooting them on. Across the city Wednesday, many were glued to their screens, including in classrooms as the players' peers have proven to be some of their biggest fans.
"It's really cool to know these are my friends out there and that I have known them for a long time," said one Boerne ISD student, Mason Lewis. "Even when it feels like, 'Oh, times are getting rough,' they just pull in and win it back."
With each run scored in a 5-2 win over Nevada on Wednesday, the cafeteria at Boerne Middle School South erupted. Five of the Boerne All-Stars attend school here, including Julian Hurst and Doc Mogford.
Students cheering them on from home say they haven't missed a game yet.
"They have blown out almost every team they have played," said Grayson Hankins. "So I don't have a doubt they will lose."
On Wednesday, as Boerne punched its ticket to the U.S. Final on Saturday, these students received a break from instruction for a lesson in supporting each other.
"The objective today is to build a nice team vibe," said Jordan Moellendorf, who teaches sixth and seventh grade at Boerne Middle School South. "The world knows Boerne, and they know how to pronounce Boerne, which is super cool."
From the community to the classroom, Wednesday's win was their win.
"They have already won, in our opinion," said Matthew Myers, principal of Boerne Middle School South. "Just to go there is a win."
Myers said he plans to buy a plane ticket and head to Williamsport to cheer his students on in-person this weekend. Regardless of the outcome, the Boerne All-Stars will be welcomed back from their first-ever Little League World Series with a parade next week.