Dozens of Lake Mary Little League fans packed 4th Street Bar and Grill on Saturday evening, cheering until the end as the girls’ team’s run came to a close with a 4-0 loss to North Carolina.
The loss was a tough one for supporters who watched the team battle its way to the Final Four. But inside the Lake Mary restaurant, pride remained stronger than disappointment.
Lena Dell and Stacey Bruno, who work concessions for the team, said the players’ success reflects years of commitment.
“A lot of these girls have been playing since T-ball together,” they said. “So that determination and the skill. They practice twice a day, three times a day sometimes. So, yeah, they’re determined.”
Lake Mary has become familiar with Little League success. In 2024, the city’s boys’ team won the World Series, and many fans said seeing another Lake Mary team make a deep run so soon is remarkable.
“Something in the water,” Bruno said. “Team players. The girls have always, that’s their dreams. And these girls, a lot of them, they’re going to go further. And that’s that determination.”
Jessica Davis, a Lake Mary resident, watched her niece, Parker Gorondy, compete on the big stage.
“My niece Parker plays on the team,” Davis said. “So win or lose, regardless of whatever happens, the entire city of Lake Mary is behind them.”
The city is expected to hold a celebration next Saturday to welcome the team home.