Parade planned for Vista Little Leaguers

By: ROB O'DELL - Staff Writer | Tuesday, August 23, 2005 10:30 PM PDT ∞

VISTA ---- As the Rancho Buena Vista Little League All-Stars chase the top prize this week in the Little League World Series, fans at home are crowding into "viewing parties" to watch the televised games and planning a parade to honor the team when it returns from Williamsport, Pa.

Representatives from the Little League, the city of Vista, the Vista Village Business Association, the Vista Optimists Club and the Vista Chamber of Commerce met Monday night to begin hammering out the details for a Sept. 10 parade in the team's honor ---- win or lose ---- that will be held downtown.

Officials said Tuesday that a starting time for the parade had yet to be decided.

The city of Vista is taking the lead on planning the parade and will be in charge of logistics such as road closures, setup and staging, traffic control and parking, officials said Tuesday.

"We're gearing up for it," said Steve Dunn, Vista's administrative services director.

Jim Baumann, executive director of the chamber, said the idea of a parade was first floated at a meeting of the Vista Village Business Association, and many felt it was a no-brainer. He noted that Oceanside had a parade for its team when it went to the World Series in 2001.

Baumann said the parade "could be really big," drawing 10,000 to 20,000 people. Dave Stong, a board member for Rancho Buena Vista Little League, said the higher estimate would occur if the team won the World Series.

"The reason it is being done is to honor and recognize (the team)," said Stong, who added that the parade will happen regardless of how the team finishes. "Whether they win the whole thing or don't win another game, they get a parade."

Stong said the parade was likely to be limited to the team and coaches along with the marching bands from Rancho Buena Vista and Vista high schools, if the two bands are available.

Stephanie Jackel, executive director of the Vista Village Business Association, said the parade would be a small one held downtown.

She said it would start on Broadway at South Santa Fe Avenue and head east on Broadway to Citrus Avenue and head north on Citrus to Main Street. The parade would head east on Main Street and finish in the courtyard at Krikorian theater in Vista Village. There is then likely to be a ceremony in the courtyard, she said.

Jackel said that the groups hoped to work with Cox Communications to put together a highlight reel of the team's accomplishments to be shown on one of the theater's movie screens.

"We are terribly proud of them," Jackel said. "We just want to show them how proud we are."

Meanwhile, viewing parties for students, parents and community members were held Tuesday at Madison Middle School and the Vista Boys & Girls Club. The two sites are also planning viewing parties for games later this week, officials said.

Ten of the 12 players on the Rancho Buena Vista team attend Madison.

Since the team won Tuesday, it will play Maitland, Fla, at 4:30 p.m. today in a game televised on ESPN. Lafayette, La., will play West Oahu on Thursday.

The winners of Wednesday's and Thursday's games will play for the U.S. Championship at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, which will be televised on ABC (Channel 10 in San Diego.) The U.S. champion will play the international champion in the World Series Championship at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, also on ABC. The loser of Saturday's game will play in the consolation game at 9 a.m. Sunday on ESPN.

Viewing parties for all remaining games will be held at Madison's gymnasium, 4930 Lake Blvd., and at the Boys & Girls Club, 410 W. California Ave. Cox Communications and the chamber are sponsoring the viewings at the Boys & Girls Club, where food and refreshments will be sold.

Contact staff writer Rob O'Dell at (760) 631-6620 or rodell@nctimes.com.

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