Tuesday, September 12, 2006

U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Floor Statement on Columbus Northern's
2006 Little League World Championship Victory
Remarks as Delivered on the Senate Floor

Mr. President, I am pleased to join my colleague, Senator Chambliss, in support of the resolution honoring the Columbus Northern Little League, the Little League World Series champions for the year 2006.

I am particularly honored to pay tribute to them because this is deja vu all over again for me; in 1983 another Georgia team, the East Marietta team, where I live, was the first Georgia team to win the Little League World Series. So now, in just 60 years, 2 of the 60 champions have come from our great State.

Saxby and I had the chance to meet these fine young men with the President of the United States just last week on Thursday on the tarmac at Dobbins Air Force Base. They were poised, they were excited, and they were proud.

I also pay tribute to the parents of these young men. If you watched the championship game against the State of New Hampshire when they won the American title, before they went on to play Japan, you saw the parents of these young men, right before the game, sharing their baskets of Georgia peaches with the parents of the New Hampshire team, just as they did with the Japanese team 2 days later. The parents showed the sportsmanship and good will and the care and the compassion that makes Little League Baseball so special.

These are special young men: Matthew Hollis, second baseman and center fielder; Ryan Lang, right fielder; Mason Meyers, right field and third base; Matthew Kuhlenberg, left field; Patrick Stallings, third base; Josh Lester, second base and shortstop; Brady Hamilton, first base, outfield, and pitcher; Cody Walker, catcher; Kyle Carter, pitcher; J. T. Phillips, shortstop and pitcher; and Kyle Rovig, left field and pitcher. And there was the management and leadership brought by manager Randy Morris and coach Richard Carter.

These fine young men played wonderful baseball all the way through the tournament. But in those final two games against New Hampshire and Japan, they soared and played like true professionals--young men who had been taught well, who were respectful, and who knew how to pay the price for victory.

Columbus Northern is our State's second team to win the Little League World Series. Kyle Carter, the pitcher, made history by striking out 11 batters and became the first pitcher in history to win 4 times in the Little League World Series.

We cannot forget Cody Walker's hitting--with the pitch and where it was pitched--and knocking a two-out pitch over the fence in right field for the two runs that won the game over Japan, nor can we forget the great second baseman workmanship of Josh Lester nor any of these fine young men who brought great pride to their State, great pride to their parents, and great pride to the great city of Columbus, GA.

I am pleased to rise today on the floor of the Senate and join Senator Chambliss in acknowledging the great achievement of these young men and encourage the Senate to unanimously adopt this resolution of recognition and appreciation for the Columbus Northern Little League team.