SAN BERNARDINO - When the Purchio family of Billings, Mont., visited Palm Springs last spring, 12-year-old Jordan Purchio knew he had to visit San Bernardino.
San Bernardino is the host of the Little League Western and Northwestern regionals, in which Jordan is playing and his father Nick is managing beginning this weekend. It is also where older brother Tyler once played and where younger brother Taylor hopes to play next year. "We were in Palm Springs, about 40 minutes away, so we drove out here,' Nick Purchio said. "We got to the stadium and it was all locked up, so the kids hopped the fence and were running around the field, sliding all over the place.'
The brothers must have been quite a sight, especially since it was raining. They asked their mother if she wanted to see the stadium, but she demurred.
Said Nick: "Jordan told her, 'That's OK, Mom, because we're going to be back here this summer.''
True to his word, Jordan helped Billings make the Northwestern tournament, which begins Saturday at Al Houghton Stadium. On Thursday, Montana and nine other 11- and 12-year-old all-star teams arrived, most after long trips from throughout the western United States.
"We told the kids this is the nicest field they'd ever play on,' Nick Purchio said as he watched his player scurry around the spacious stadium. "So the kids are checking it out to make sure we weren't fibbing.'
The Idaho Little League team didn't want a trip to the Western Regionals so they could meet former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. But meet him they did, a little bonus on their trip from Boise to Southern California.
"He was at the airport in Phoenix,' Idaho manager Dave Hawk said of Idaho's stopover. "Some of the kids had pictures taken with him.'
Added Idaho standout Andrew Work of Tyson: "He was very nice.'
Idaho player Nolan Amundson appeared poised to play the moment he stepped off the bus, with his jet-black Wilson fielder's glove already affixed to his left hand.
"We're up-tempo,' Amundson said. "We're excited and ready to play.'
The Montana team left Billings early Thursday morning and was in San Bernardino by 1:30 p.m. It was a long trip, with a layover in Phoenix, but the Billings kids suffered no jet lag.
"They're too pumped up to be tired,' Montana coach Ken Roberts said with a smile. Roberts said his players were eager to play, in addition to visiting a few water parks and maybe the beach.
"We're going to avoid the major amusement parks like Disneyland where it's really crowded,' Roberts said.
The Alaska team arrived at 10:15 a.m. and headed straight for the swimming pool at Little League Headquarters, not even bothering to gaze at the 10,000-seat stadium.
"It's something, traveling from Alaska with 14 kids,' Alaska manager James Riske said. "They had their Walkmans and Gameboys. Some of them played cards.'
Gin rummy and blackjack are the games of choice of the Alaskans.
The fun and games also began Thursday for the Western Regional Headquarters staff, some paid, but most volunteer.
"It's always a challenge with 11 teams arriving on the same day,' Western Regional director Mike Legge said. "But things are falling into place and the field looks great. We'll be ready to go.'
San Bernardino is the host of the Little League Western and Northwestern regionals, in which Jordan is playing and his father Nick is managing beginning this weekend. It is also where older brother Tyler once played and where younger brother Taylor hopes to play next year. "We were in Palm Springs, about 40 minutes away, so we drove out here,' Nick Purchio said. "We got to the stadium and it was all locked up, so the kids hopped the fence and were running around the field, sliding all over the place.'
The brothers must have been quite a sight, especially since it was raining. They asked their mother if she wanted to see the stadium, but she demurred.
Said Nick: "Jordan told her, 'That's OK, Mom, because we're going to be back here this summer.''
True to his word, Jordan helped Billings make the Northwestern tournament, which begins Saturday at Al Houghton Stadium. On Thursday, Montana and nine other 11- and 12-year-old all-star teams arrived, most after long trips from throughout the western United States.
"We told the kids this is the nicest field they'd ever play on,' Nick Purchio said as he watched his player scurry around the spacious stadium. "So the kids are checking it out to make sure we weren't fibbing.'
The Idaho Little League team didn't want a trip to the Western Regionals so they could meet former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. But meet him they did, a little bonus on their trip from Boise to Southern California.
"He was at the airport in Phoenix,' Idaho manager Dave Hawk said of Idaho's stopover. "Some of the kids had pictures taken with him.'
Added Idaho standout Andrew Work of Tyson: "He was very nice.'
Idaho player Nolan Amundson appeared poised to play the moment he stepped off the bus, with his jet-black Wilson fielder's glove already affixed to his left hand.
"We're up-tempo,' Amundson said. "We're excited and ready to play.'
The Montana team left Billings early Thursday morning and was in San Bernardino by 1:30 p.m. It was a long trip, with a layover in Phoenix, but the Billings kids suffered no jet lag.
"They're too pumped up to be tired,' Montana coach Ken Roberts said with a smile. Roberts said his players were eager to play, in addition to visiting a few water parks and maybe the beach.
"We're going to avoid the major amusement parks like Disneyland where it's really crowded,' Roberts said.
The Alaska team arrived at 10:15 a.m. and headed straight for the swimming pool at Little League Headquarters, not even bothering to gaze at the 10,000-seat stadium.
"It's something, traveling from Alaska with 14 kids,' Alaska manager James Riske said. "They had their Walkmans and Gameboys. Some of them played cards.'
Gin rummy and blackjack are the games of choice of the Alaskans.
The fun and games also began Thursday for the Western Regional Headquarters staff, some paid, but most volunteer.
"It's always a challenge with 11 teams arriving on the same day,' Western Regional director Mike Legge said. "But things are falling into place and the field looks great. We'll be ready to go.'
JAke,
Etiwanda is Rancho Cucomonga, bordering towns kids from both cities, Vineyard little leauge is in Etiwanda but most kids from RCC. Granite Bay had 2 pitchers hurt shortly after press time. So out of 1000's of teams I had 6 of 8 teams in Williams port, and other 2arent in my top 20 and rightfully so. basically right on the money, and am up tons of units thus far, incase you are interested.
Etiwanda is Rancho Cucomonga, bordering towns kids from both cities, Vineyard little leauge is in Etiwanda but most kids from RCC. Granite Bay had 2 pitchers hurt shortly after press time. So out of 1000's of teams I had 6 of 8 teams in Williams port, and other 2arent in my top 20 and rightfully so. basically right on the money, and am up tons of units thus far, incase you are interested.
