Aug 6, 2015 4 min read

Every journey begins with one step. For the Pony League baseball players from San Bernardino, Calif., that step was more of a stumble – an ugly one.

The Berdoo won three tournaments to qualify for the West Zone championship tournament in Los Alamitos, Calif., last week with a dream of reaching the Pony League World Series and their stay was close to ending abruptly.

San Bernardino lost its first-round game to Maui, Hawaii, 3-0, to get moved into the loser’s bracket. One more loss in the double-elimination tournament and the dream was over.

“I knew that wasn’t the end of it,” manager Abel Mandueno said. “We didn’t have our backs against the wall and this team never has. They’re always there. They’re fighters. It meant nothing. We knew we had a game to play and our goal was to play Hawaii again.”

Wins over Mountlake Terrace, Wash., and Scottsdale, Ariz., gave San Bernardino that opportunity. The Berdoo took advantage by beating Maui, 9-4, to earn a semifinal matchup with … Maui.

San Bernardino responded with another win to clinch a spot in the championship game against Santa Cruz, Calif., last Sunday. With an eye on being the first team from the city to earn a spot in the world series in 60 years, it stumbled again.

Santa Cruz took a 6-1 lead early and held a three-run advantage entering the bottom of the seventh inning with only three outs separating it from Washington.

San Bernardino had other plans.

After a barrage of hits and errors tied the score, second baseman Damien Sanchez stepped to the plate with the bases loaded.

“That was such a nerve-racking experience,” Sanchez said. “I tried not to think. It was crazy. We wanted to get here so badly.”

He fought off a pitch and hit it down the third-base line to score the winning run and make the dream a reality. Two years after seeing their Little League World Series hopes crushed in a regional, the Berdoo clinched a spot in the Pony League World Series.

San Bernardino will face the winner of Washington and Vienna, Austria, Sunday at noon. The world series begins today with the home run derby and skills competition at 11 a.m., and the first game between Houston, Texas, and Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, is set for 5:30 p.m. The late game is Bay County, Mich., against Host Area winner Johnstown at 8 p.m. All games will be played at Lew Hays Pony Field in Washington Park.

“It was an amazing moment. We made history,” Sanchez said. “It was a dream come true to come here. The whole team worked so hard to get to this point. I couldn’t believe it when that ball went through for a hit.”

The crowd looked on in disbelief as the rally commenced, but Mandueno enjoyed every at-bat and every pitch. He had seen similar comebacks from his team in previous years.

“The boys kept fighting and little by little, they chipped away,” Mandueno said. “That final inning was bananas. Everything happened emotionally. It was perfect. It was one of the best games I’ve ever coached or been a part of.”

After the loss to Maui, there were no lingering doubts or worries surrounding the group of kids who have been playing organized baseball together for almost five years. There were tournament losses, many disappointments and, of course, close calls. Even a five-run deficit against Santa Cruz was not enough to make San Bernardino flinch.

“We always knew we had to come back,” shortstop Jon Carlos said. “We didn’t want to go home. We came back with a demeanor that do or die.”

It’s all do for the Berdoo – a nickname for their hometown, the 17th-largest city in California.

San Bernardino has a 17-2 record this year with 201 runs scored and only 50 allowed. Pitching has plenty to do with that, but Mandueno declined to elaborate on who his top options will be once the series begins.

“We have a good amount of pitchers. I can’t even count,” Mandueno said with a smirk. “We’ll throw anyone on the bump. If a kid wants to pitch, we’ll throw ’em. The team is deep in pitching. Everyone is my ace.”

San Bernardino’s players are not concerned with who is on the mound or their opponent. They light up with excitement when asked about the competition and the opportunity to represent a city that has not had a team reach the Pony League World Series since 1955.

“It’s an incredibly honor and a blessing to even be here,” right fielder Noah Parra said. “We’ve all grown together and we became a family.”