78R4928 MW-D By: Geren H.C.R. No. 62CONCURRENT RESOLUTION WHEREAS, Fort Worth's Westside All-Stars Little League baseball team won the 2002 Southwest Little League Championship and advanced to the semifinals of the 56th Little League World Series; and WHEREAS, The Westside All-Stars defeated Texas East champion First Colony American of Sugar Land 2-0 to garner the 2002 Southwest Little League title and become the first Fort Worth team in 42 years to reach the Little League World Series; and WHEREAS, The talented team from Texas advanced to the semifinals and lost 2-1 against the Louisville, Kentucky, team that went on to win the championship; proving themselves to be formidable competitors, these young men played 11 hard-fought innings, a Little League World Series record, which included both starting pitchers throwing a no-hit shut-out for the first six innings; the game also had a record 49 strikeouts, with 21 of them by Westside's Walker Kelly; and WHEREAS, Led by team manager Jon Kelly, who was assisted by fellow coaches Mitch Belew and Joe VanderHamm, these outstanding Little Leaguers are Mitchell Belew, Patton Eagle, Mark Grace, Chester Hamilton, Jack Huckabay, Walker Kelly, Robby Lebus, Robert Ratliff, Rand Ravnaas, Chris Rivera, Mikey Valdez, and Jeffrey VanderHamm; and WHEREAS, In addition to showing the world that they are talented athletes, these ball players demonstrated admirable character by dedicating their games to Bobby Ratliff, teammate Robert Ratliff's father who is battling cancer; and WHEREAS, The Westside All-Stars played with determination and outstanding sportsmanship, and the Lone Star State takes great pride in all they have accomplished; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby honor the Westside All-Stars for being 2002 Southwest Little League Champions and semifinalists in the 56th Little League World Series and commend the players and coaches on a sterling season; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.