Bellaire gets a chance to surpass its wildest dreams Saturday when it faces Maracaibo, Venezuela, in the Little League World Series championship game.

"When you start tournament ball, you think about Williamsport. But that thought enters your mind and goes away in a hurry, because it seems too farfetched to ever get here," McConn said Friday. "We had a goal at the beginning of the season to win district. ... And here we are.

"I don't know what else to say."

Bellaire, is the sixth Texas team to reach the final, and is seeking to become the first U.S. South team to win the Series since Marietta, Ga., in 1983. The last Texas team to win was Houston in 1966.

If omens are an indication, Bellaire might have the edge. On the team's flight to Pittsburgh, the pilot came back to meet with the players, telling them he was a member of the 1966 champions. Maracaibo has had an interesting ride to the championship game as well.

To begin with, their flight from Venezuela had to return home because of mechanical problems.

They've been flying high ever since, reaching the title game by upsetting favored Tokyo in Thursday's International Pool final.

"He was not really that surprised," said Luis Sanchez, interpreting for Maracaibo manager Eduvino Quevedo. "To become a Latin American champion, you have to compete with 12 other champions who play very aggressive baseball. You feel you are prepared to go all the way."

Sierra Maestra-Maracaibo is the ninth Venezuelan team to reach the Series, and second to get to the championship game after Coquivacoa-Maracaibo won it all in 1994.

Both Bellaire and Maracaibo are evenly matched, especially because Bellaire ace Ross Haggard - who dominated the Series with two wins and a save - is unavailable after pitching in Thursday's U.S. Pool final.

Bellaire (3-1) enters the game batting .256 for the Series, led by Michael Johnson, who's gone 7-for-12 with three homers and four RBI.

Maracaibo (3-1), batting .230 as a team, and has been led by Ruben Mavarez, who is 4-for-10 with two homers and six RBI.

Quevedo, who's been concerned about the lack of offensive production, said the team has been coming around.

Neither manager is letting on who will start Saturday.

McConn said he's got three - Johnson, Drew Zizinia or Alex Atherton - to choose from, but won't say which one to allow them all to get a good night's sleep.

Quevedo said it's a choice between Junior Valero and Ruben Mavarez, who each won a game in the preliminary round.

Neither Valero or Mavarez are nervous.

"Without bragging, he thinks he can pitch a good game," Mavarez said.

Added Valero: "He doesn't get nervous. He said he doesn't feel that (Bellaire) is not that superior to their team, so there's no reason to get nervous."

The Maracaibo players, wearing T-shirts and sharing jokes among each other, looked the loosest they've been all week at their media conference.

Maracaibo manager Eduvino Quevedo said that reflects the team's attitude and personality of their coaches.

"They've shown that they can win, and have fun, too," Quevedo said.

Johnson has been the most laid-back of all the Bellaire players this week.

"I'm not really nervous because, really, our goal was just to win district," Johnson said. "And all of a sudden we got here. So I don't really care if we win or lose."

Manager McConn went back on what he said the previous night, when he stated that winning the U.S. title was the most important thing.

Friday, McConn said: "Obviously, if you don't win tomorrow's game, you fall short of winning what you come up here for. Winning the United States championship, I think I made that comment because I wanted to make sure the boys knew that they had won a really big game.

"No, we want to win that game. We want to win the whole thing, absolutely."