TOUCHDOWN, NOW HOME RUN TIME; WITH VALLEY'S HELP, SYLMAR ALL-STARS LAND IN COLORADO.Byline: Brad Byler Special to the Daily News When their plane arrived at Denver International Airport This article is about Denver International Airport. For other uses, see KDEN (disambiguation). Denver International Airport (IATA: DEN, ICAO: KDEN, FAA LID: DEN), often called DIA on Wednesday morning, Sylmar All-Stars manager Laura Acosta couldn't help but feel half the battle was over. After qualifying for the 16-and-under Western Area Championships by finishing second in its Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, regional three weeks ago, Sylmar didn't know if it could afford the trip to Colorado. But after hearing the team's story, San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. residents and businesses donated more than $8,000 to send the team. Acosta was receiving calls from people wanting to help the team as late as Tuesday night. Finally, she had to tell the well-wishers that no more donations could be accepted. ``We feel now we want to give something back,'' Acosta said. ``Hopefully, we'll walk out of here with a trophy to give to California. But we're also here for the experience, and that's real exciting for the girls. I told them that as long as they give 100 percent, I'm not really looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. the win. A lot of people opened their hearts to get us here. They made our dream come true.'' Sylmar, one of 17 teams from California in the 23-team tournament, opens pool play this morning against the Spirits of Visalia. After today's pool play, the teams will be reseeded into winners' and losers' brackets brackets: see punctuation. for the double-elimination championship tournament that will run through Sunday. Rosalie Ramirez, Sylmar's second baseman second baseman n. Baseball The infielder who is positioned near and to the first-base side of second base. Noun 1. second baseman - (baseball) the person who plays second base second sacker , led the teams in the Pledge of Allegiance Pledge of Allegiance, in full, Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, oath that proclaims loyalty to the United States. and its national symbol. over the loudspeaker loudspeaker or speaker, device used to convert electrical energy into sound. It consists essentially of a thin flexible sheet called a diaphragm that is made to vibrate by an electric signal from an amplifier. during the tournament's opening ceremony. Sylmar wore new uniforms that were donated. Ramirez is one of the few Sylmar players who had been on a plane before. ``The majority of them haven't been out of California,'' she said. ``I shared their experience, though, because we were all kind of scared and anxious at the same time.'' While Sylmar isn't the only team that is playing out of state for the first time in this tournament, it is one of the few. Travel is a new obstacle for the team to overcome. ``It is kind of hard to stay focused because you stay in a hotel and you play around, but I think our team can handle it,'' said Ramirez, 15. ``We know when to be serious, and hopefully we can do it on the field. We're very enthusiastic right now. We want to go out and show everyone that we can do it.'' The Western Regional is one of three 16-and-under B level regional tournaments played in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . The Western Regional is considered by most to be the toughest. Media coverage of Sylmar's plight made the team known outside the Valley. ``So, this is the team I've heard so much about,'' said tournament director Carl Clifton as Acosta checked in at Wednesday's seeding meeting. Acosta said Sylmar is nervous but eager to play. Regardless of the tournament results, the all-stars aren't likely to forget the experience. ``It's already been memorable,'' Ramirez said. Note: Newbury Park is also playing in the tournament and begins pool play today against the Benicia Blue Steal of Vallejo. PLAY BALL With the community's help, the Sylmar All-Stars are ready to take the field. What: 16-and-under Western Area Championships When: Today through Sunday Where: Aurora Aurora, cities, United States Aurora (ərôr`ə, ô–). 1 City (1990 pop. 222,103), Adams and Arapahoe counties, N central Colo., a growing suburb on the east side of Denver; inc. 1903. , Colo. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO (Color) Thanks to more than $8,000 in donations from Valley residents and businesses, Sylmar All-Stars board plane Wednesday. David Sprague/Daily News BOX: PLAY BALL (see text) |
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