If the national media and millions of sports fans across the country needed a lesson on how to properly pronounce the name of a community nestled in the Texas Hill Country County of Kendall, a spirited bunch of kids from the town of Boerne (“BUR-nee”) Little League provided it - for the second time in three years. Following in the footsteps of the heroes from 2024, the latest crop of 11- & 12-year-old All-Stars blazed a trail across Texas from Del Rio to Abilene to Waco, and then all the way to the mecca of Little League baseball in Williamsport, PA.

That journey began after an All-Star team was selected from amongst the many talented 11- & 12-year-old players in the Boerne Youth Athletic Association’s Little League group. That select dozen athletes, their manager, and two Assistant Coaches moved on to win the District 26 Championship in Ingram and then the Sectionals in Del Rio. Fair Oaks Ranch played a key component in the team’s success as three players from The Ranch, Anders Paulson, Chandler Schramek and Lawson Belden were members of the team, as well as Assistant Coach (& Lawson’s father) Rusty Belden.

As the players’, coaches’ and parents’ bonds grew ever tighter, the next step was the double-elimination Texas West State Tournament in Abilene. Despite some harrowing moments as the Boerne Boys of Summer lost their second game and had to fight back to capture the Texas West State title, they moved on to the Southwest USA Regional Championship in Waco.

It was a hot afternoon on August 11th in Waco and Boerne led 4-0 entering the final inning of the Southwest Region championship game. As the final out was recorded, the “Boerne Boys” ran from the dugout and onto the field to celebrate. Players and families rushed the field, sharing a moment of hugs, tears and disbelief. Twelve boys had come together to achieve a dream: They had earned a spot in the Little League World Series!

Among the families celebrating with their players were Coach Belden and son Lawson, who had that special opportunity to work and play on the team together. “The best memories for me will be the time with Lawson: road trips to Del Rio, Abilene and Waco, and all the time in the car to and from practice. It’s time I will never get back but will always remember. As a father, I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to experience this with our family and, of course, Lawdog!” says Rusty.

That moment of celebration was the result of a summer of hard work and commitment, the part of the story that isn’t as well known. This team walked a long, hard road to get to the World Series. Unlike the majority of the 20 teams competing there, most of whom qualified in as few as 7 or 8 games, Boerne’s crew qualified by a record of 17-2. They played more baseball than any team at the August World Series. They practiced nonstop. Even when the outcome looked uncertain, they kept their heads up and kept pushing forward.

They are a talented group of boys, but more importantly, they are a devoted group of boys. And they are supported by wonderful, supportive families. “It was an incomparable experience, and we will forever be thankful for all the lessons they learned during their time together,” says mom, Maggie Belden.

Perhaps the most valuable takeaway for the boys is the perseverance they learned. “Your attitude will bring the whole team down, so I tried to keep my head up,” said Lawson Beldon. At 12 years old, he was learning that his own mindset has a powerful impact on the people around him.

Coach Belden adds, “I think we grew early and often in All-Stars. We almost lost our first game, and the boys learned how to handle adversity and their emotions right away. It served us well as we moved through the tournament. Every stage became more stressful and more competitive, and the boys were able to overcome adversity and learn to win even when they didn’t have their ‘A’ game. These challenges helped the teammates connect on a deeper level than before, with a camaraderie that could only be described as family. In fact, they even incorporated this relationship when breaking out of their huddle.

“Family on 3”—I truly believe this was a crucial point for us at the State Tournament. Up until then, the boys always broke their huddle with “Boerne,” but for some reason, during our first loss at the state tournament, Kase Yarbrough decided to go with ‘Family.’ I addressed the team the next day, and we talked about what it means to be a family on and off the field. I truly think the boys came together on another level at that moment. They were playing for each other and not just themselves. It was really fun to watch as a coach and a parent,” says Rusty Belden.

When the team returned to Boerne after their experience at the World Series, they were welcomed with a congratulatory parade on Main Street. Families gathered and people lined the road with signs in appreciation of their team. “The support we received from the Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch communities was incredible. The excitement around town meant a lot to the team and was a constant reminder that the Boerne Boys were playing for much more than just a victory. They were representing the entire Boerne/Fair Oaks community and the state of Texas!” says Coach Belden.

A small town got to watch 12 boys become something bigger than a baseball team. The community wasn’t only cheering for the boys; the boys were giving something back to the town: excitement, pride, shared memories and a reason for neighbors to celebrate together. Each of these 12 boys have their own journey ahead, but for one summer, they were the Boerne Boys, and an entire community got to share that experience with them.

The Boerne Youth Athletic Association has been in operation for over 60 years and has no paid staff. It has a 13-member Board, 300+ volunteers, and is primarily funded by contributions from individuals and private sector organizations. It supports over 60 baseball and softball teams and between 1000-1200 kids in both its Spring & Fall seasons. The explosive growth within the Little League District, which essentially overlaps the BISD, coupled with the recent success and exposure brought on by the LLWS appearances, has increased the BYAA’s needs in many areas. To learn more about volunteering opportunities, or how to contribute or invest in a sponsorship, visit www.boernelittleleague.com or contact Sponsorship Director Jody Beckcom at jody@boernelittleleague.com.