The Maracaibo, Venezuela, team, made up primarily of players from lower-middle class families, is certainly not the wealthiest team in Williamsport, but manager Eduvino Quevedo said, it might be the toughest.

	Members of both the Maracaibo, Venezuela, and Bellaire, Texas, teams run around the field together after the championship game.

"Mainly, they're fighters in all aspects," Quevedo said through interpreter Luis Sanchez after Maracaibo beat Tokyo on Thursday to reach the championship game.

"From a baseball perspective, they have to deal with other leagues that are more affluent, such as Coquivacoa, who have better equipment, better coaches, etc. Them being from a somewhat poor neighborhood, it's tough for them to compete with those type of teams."

Coquivacoa, which won the series in 1994, is part of Maracaibo, but located about 40 miles from the Sierra Maestra Little League that Quevedo's team is from.

Because his players are not always able to provide themselves with all the necessary equipment, donations play a huge part in the success of Quevedo's team.

Four players on the team lacked spikes at the beginning of tournament play, and first baseman Adrian Chourio made the trip to Williamsport with only $10.

The needs of all five players have since been taken care of.

Equipment companies also have helped. The team will leave Williamsport with approximately 20 more bats.

When accepting the 2000 George and Barbara Bush Little League Parents of the Year Award Thursday morning for himself and his wife, the father of New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter took several minutes to make his thank-you speech.

His son normally has a stranglehold on the spotlight, joked Charles Jeter, who added that he was going to prolong his moment as long as possible.

Charles and Dorothy Jeter were active volunteers in the Westwood Little League in Kalamazoo, Mich., during both Derek and his sister Sharlee's playing days there. Charles also coached both of his children.

Dorothy coached Sharlee as well.

Derek also gives back to youth organizations like Little League through his Turn 2 Foundation in Michigan, Florida, New York and Ohio. The organization supports activities and programs that provide kids alternatives to drugs and alcohol.

The Bush award was first presented in 1981 to the parents of Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt. It has since been awarded to the parents of Nolan Ryan, Carl Yastrzemski, Frank Thomas and Mark McGwire, among others.

Earlier this week, Davenport manager Matt Kolar noted that it's been like "Hawkeye Saturdays" back home with fans crowding around TV sets whenever his team plays.

After Wednesday's win that launched Davenport to the U.S. final, Kolar was asked if he was going to bump the Hawkeyes off the front pages.

Kolar responded: "I don't know. I guess they play Kansas State on Saturday, so they'll be on the front page, but it ain't going to be pretty."