'Dream Come True'—Petaluma Little League off to World Series

Story updated 12:03 a.m.

They've done it! The will head to the World Series, after defeating Hawaii 7-5 in San Bernadino on Saturday.

They're due to fly to South Williamsport, Pa. this morning (Sunday) where games will begin Thursday.

"Some of them are still in shock," board member Eric Smith told Patch on Saturday night. "I heard some of them saying, 'This is a dream come true.'"

"I mean, this is something you see in the movies or on TV, but it doesn't happen in your own life—to go to the World Series," he said. "But now it has."

Smith said he wasn't sure yet how many parents will go with the players.

"We're still trying to figure all that out," he said. "This isn't something you can really plan for."

Smith was fielding lots of phone calls Saturday night.

"It's still pretty overwhelming right now," he said of everyone's response to today's win. "It's an incredible comeback from last year, when we were behind."

Patch asked the reason for this year's success.

"We're 13 kids strong," Smith said. "They go out there and they do their job. Many of them have been playing together for a number of years. They believe in each other. They've been saying, 'We can do this.'"

The Petaluma Nationals will now face the Northeast champion team, Fairfield American Little League at noon on Aug. 16. World Series matches will run through Aug. 26.

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Add your own photos/video from today's game too, if you'd like. And feel free to leave a comment for these little guys beneath this story.