‘They make me proud as hell’: Tacoma dad chokes up as team faces Little League World Series elimination

Tacoma’s Soundview Little League faces a win-or-go-home game Tuesday at noon against Phenix City, Alabama.

The team opened the World Series with wins over Alabama and Texas before a 5-0 shutout against Nevada’s Paseo Verde dropped them into the elimination bracket on Sunday.

Dan Huteson, whose son Smith is on the roster, returned to “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio for a third time to talk about what the deep tournament run has meant and what it might cost.

“We’re doing good out here. You already know we are,” Huteson said. “First getting here, first couple games, this was just like the cherry on top. All of us were kind of commenting as parents, like just being here in this experience is over the top, and now nerves are starting to set in a little bit.”

Tacoma boys are growing up, and they don’t need Dad anymore

Huteson said the most striking part of the trip has been watching the players become independent.

“We’re just hearing from them less and less, and they are becoming independent right before our eyes,” Huteson said. “We’re texting them asking, ‘Hey, what’s going on? When do we get to see you today?’ And we feel like we’re hearing from them less and less, which is obviously a good thing because they’re experiencing this and grasping it.

“My kid throwing T-shirts off the top of the dugout to the crowd and telling them to get louder,” he continued. “Things that you just won’t ever be able to experience.”

Fireflies, 15,000 fans and things you don’t see on TV

Gee asked Huteson what surprised him most about Williamsport, the part viewers at home never see.

“Williamsport brings it every year. Their town, their community, their state literally comes out for almost every game,” Huteson said. “Like, 5,000-seat stadium, 5,000 can fit out in the berm, out in the outfield on the grass, and they had anywhere from 12,000 to 15,000 for their last Pennsylvania game.

“The most surprising thing about being in Pennsylvania is not only the ruralness, but the fireflies; never seen fireflies before,” he added. “This was not on the bingo card, as we’re saying this year, for sure.”

Christmas is going to be tough this year

Gee asked the question he knew parents at home were thinking: How much does this cost?

“It’s more than expensive, to tell you the truth, man,” Huteson said. “We don’t even want to look at the credit card, man. It just keeps getting swiped, and we’re lucky that it just keeps getting approved right now more than anything else. Christmas is going to be a little tough this year. That’s all I got to say.”

Huteson pointed families to Soundview Little League’s Zeffy donation page, which has already raised 56% of its goal.

The question that choked Dad up

Gee closed with the question he has been building toward across all three interviews: years from now, what does Huteson hope his son remembers about his dad being there?

“Hopefully he remembers how proud that he’s made me more than anything else, man,” Huteson said. “All of these guys, not just my kid, but all of the boys, man, you’re making me get choked up, Gee. They make me proud as hell, man. I can’t explain how much work that they put in, how much effort and sacrifice that they put in, and man, it’s nothing to them.

“Regardless if we made it here or not, I would feel the same way,” he continued. “But to see them on the main stage doing their thing, it makes us proud. Just really, really proud.”

Gee told Huteson the interviews have meant something to him too.

“For me to interview you and talk to you and hear and feel your pride and joy, it does wonders for me, and it helps me. It’s almost like therapy for me,” Gee said. “No matter what happens, this experience is forever, man. The rest of your life, it’s forever.”

Huteson left listeners with one final thought.

“Everybody, if you can, just be a part of your kids’ lives in every little aspect and every part of it, and you will be tenfold just given everything that you want in your life, man,” Huteson said. “There’s nothing better than this. Be a part of everything, the early mornings, the late nights; it will all come to fruition in the way that it needs to.”

Soundview plays Alabama today at 12 p.m. on ESPN in a loser-out game.

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.