FAIRLAND, Okla. -
The town of Fairland is the practice site of the Northeast Oklahoma All-Stars. It's a little league baseball team comprised of boys between the ages of eleven and thirteen, who hail from nearby communities.
They've been doing it together for most of their lives.
According to third baseman Tate Maupin, "The fact that we've been playing for most of our lives; just playing together... makes us that much better."
And the kids definitely have fun while doing it. It was Maupin who planted a shaving cream "pie" in the face of assistant coach Cameran Hines during our interview a few minutes later.
The N.E.O. All-Stars have reached the Regional Finals in Waco, Texas. And if they can win there, the next stop is the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
But the travel costs of these trips quickly add up. Thanks to community sponsorship, including country music star Keith Anderson, this group of young baseball players are having the experience of a lifetime.
The team is guaranteed at least three games in pool play which begins on August 3 in Waco. If the N.E.O. All-Stars advanced out of pool play, they're guaranteed a nationally televised game at either 4:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. on ESPN2.
