Phillies take Lee Little League title

The walls of the South Fort Myers Little League building at Rutenberg Community are full but League Commissioner Howard Gold is making room.

The Major Phillies were recently named the Lee County Little League Champs after battling the North Ft. Myers Rockies in a 2-0 game.

"It's a good problem to have when your walls fill up," said Gold, who had been speaking about needing wall space during the opening night of the 21-game season in February. "We have a good overall team effort and the players contributed and came through in the clutch."

The Phillies' win represents the third team from South Fort Myers Little League to win the county's Don Davis Trophy in two years.

"Since the beginning of the tournament we knew we could compete if we kept focused," said Brian Smith, the Phillies manager, whose players only lost one game all season. "We never talked about any other game than the next one coming up ... I think that helps."

But Gold and Smith said the players hard work is really what won them the last of six games.

"They are a great group of kids and families that work tremendously hard to get to every practice," said Smith about the team that will be playing for the league title next.

Smith, who has managed the Phillies for almost 10 years, had only three 12-year-olds on this team - that's less than other teams in the league.

"Everybody is constantly working to improve the quality of play and it shows," said Gold, adding that the Phillies talent was especially showcased during the semi-final game against the Cape Coral National Braves.

The Phillies were down two and won the game 3-2 in the sixth inning.

"It was absolutely heart-stopping," Gold said.

And, the excitement must have carried over to the finals game the next night.

"It's basically the hard work that they put in," Smith said. "We worked well as a team and everybody was on the same page."