Frank Lautenberg: “I rise to introduce that resolution along with my colleague, Senator Torricelli, expressing our pride and our admiration…”

“I rise to introduce that resolution along with my colleague, Senator Torricelli, expressing our pride and our admiration for that very special group of youngsters from New Jersey. New Jersey has a national philosopher who dwells in its boundaries. His name is Yogi Berra. He is often quoted and I quote him now. I recall he said, ``It's like deja vu all over again.'' For another time, a New Jersey Little League team has won the prestigious Little League World Series championship, a group of exciting youngsters under the age of 12, vigorous sports figures now. I have seen them on television. I understand the 11-year-old pitcher got a request for marriage from an admirer. I don't think that is what he was striving for, but it happened. The honors accorded this group have been spectacular. This past Saturday, the Toms River East American Little League team clinched the honor, defeating Kashima, Japan, by a score of 12 to 9 to win the 52nd annual Little League World Series Championship. They are affectionately known as ``The Beasts of the East,'' these little guys. They are pretty good. They received a hero's welcome Sunday upon return home from the five-game series in Williamsport, PA, where they defeated teams from Jenison, MI, Cyress, CA, Tampa, FL, and Greenville, NC, before their final game with Japan. They are the fourth New Jersey team in history to win the Little League World Series and the first U.S. team in 5 years to win this title.”