‘Everyone was super pumped’: Tacoma Little Leaguer talks Soundview’s first World Series win

Tacoma’s Soundview Little League made history this summer as the first team from Tacoma to reach the Little League World Series in Williamsport. They opened with wins over Alabama and Texas before their run ended in the elimination bracket.

Dan Huteson, the team dad who became a regular voice on “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio throughout the tournament, returned one final time, this time accompanied by his 12-year-old son and player on the team, Smith Huteson.

KIRO host Ursula Reutin asked Smith what comes to mind first when he thinks about the Little League World Series.

“Just hanging out with teammates and being with them every day, and just experiencing the whole thing,” Smith said.

KIRO host Gee Scott asked for one favorite moment that stood above the rest.

“Probably just getting through the first game because everyone was like super pumped just to be there, and especially just winning that,” Smith said. “That was just wonderful to have happen.”

Deep breaths and a double against Alabama

Ursula asked Smith how he handled the nerves of playing in front of thousands of fans while the entire Pacific Northwest cheered them on while watching on TV.

“I just took deep breaths because that’s always helped, and everyone else just did their own thing,” Smith said.

Dan jumped in with a detail the cameras caught.

“If you notice on that last at-bat that he had in the game against Alabama that we lost, he got a nice double into right-center field, and there was a nice camera shot of him,” Dan said. “He probably took the deepest breath I’ve ever seen in my entire life as he was staring at his bat really quick and getting ready to go.”

What Smith wants from Dad after a game

Gee asked Smith what he needs from his father after a game, whether it be coaching tips, encouragement, food, or plain silence.

“Anything that could happen, basically. I like encouragement and just like talking through the game,” Smith said. “Maybe also some ice cream.”

“We try to keep it cool and level-headed,” Dan added. “We don’t get into too much coaching and things like that in the car ride home. We already know what happened, and it’s more encouragement, trying to understand what happened, but not in a negative connotation at all.”

Dad still can’t believe it happened

Back home in Tacoma, Dan said the experience still does not feel real.

“I still can’t believe it. I’m still waiting to be pinched to wake up and know that we’re still playing in districts and haven’t even started the moment of getting out here yet,” Dan said.

“You don’t realize how big time it is when you’re there in the moment,” he continued. “What’s cool is that the whole team was excited about what we accomplished, whether we won the whole thing or not. It’s pretty cool to hear back from everybody and the smiles on their faces that they know that they did something pretty unique.”

Dan shared one moment since coming back to Tacoma that stuck with him: Smith’s older brother threw a bullpen session in the backyard, and Smith hesitated about catching it.

“His brother goes, ‘Bro, you went to the Little League World Series. You could basically do anything, man,'” Dan said. “It’s kind of cool just to hear those thoughts and put it all into perspective like that.”

Ping pong with kids from around the world

Ursula asked Smith for the coolest thing that happened off the field.

“Playing like video games or ping-ponging against different people around the world, like the kids from South Korea, Dominican Republic, Curaçao, and just like everywhere, is just to experience how they do their things,” Smith said.

A message to himself in 15 years

Gee told Smith that this conversation would be available long into the future and asked him what he would say to himself 15 years from now.

“Probably just keep working hard, because as you can see, if you do, you make it really far,” Smith said. “So if you are like in a slump or something, just keep working and get that extra work in that other teammates don’t.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.