The Urbandale, Iowa, Little League All-Stars became one of eight U.S. teams to make it to the 2009 World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, last month. All the kids grew up in CHARACTER COUNTS! schools and were engaged with the Pursuing Victory With Honor sportsmanship program through their Little League experience.

After their 5-3 triumph over Mercer Island, Washington, in the quarterfinals, Urbandale became the first Iowa team to win a World Series game since the field expanded to 16 teams in 2001 after four previous clubs went winless.

Unfortunately, they were eliminated 8-3 in a semifinal game with Staten Island before 16,900 fans at Howard J. Lamade Stadium.

“The boys battled,” said Urbandale manager Scott Grau. “We were looking for that spark to happen, and it never came. I couldn’t be prouder of the way they conducted themselves.”