Town's Pride
Winning tradition found in Ricebird red

District, state and world championships in various sports are taken for granted by El Campo fans.

El Campo's 2006 Junior League Boys All-Star Baseball Team made a mark with a World Series championship this past summer.

The 13- and 14-year-olds, led by Manager Mark Van Gorp, finished the post season with a 22-2 record, including a 7-0 record in championship games. El Campo outscored all opponents by a combined 200-54 in their championship quest.

"They play because they love the game. I think that is something you just don't teach and you can't coach that. They have to want to play. With these boys, that's never been an issue," Van Gorp told the El Campo Leader-News.

"This is incredible for me," the manager said.  "For it to be something that is a hobby for me, and not a job, and to be able to go to the World Series and win it is just a dream come true. I could never ask for anything more than that."

El Campo won 12 games in the course of qualifying for the Junior League World Series. Once competing in the series held in Taylor, Mich., the team had a 5-1 run to claim the title.

El Campo High School Coach Bob Gillis collected his 100th victory in 2006 as the Ricebird varsity team earned another playof f berth.

The All-Stars won the first game of the series against Pearl City, Hawaii. El Campo's only loss came in their second game of the series to Alexandria, Va., but the junior leaguers rallied with wins over South Bend, Ind., Upper Deerfield, N.J., Pearl City, Hawaii a second time and finally, Guaymas, Mexico.

Prior to the boys advancing to the World Series, the 2003 El Campo Senior League Girls All-Star Softball Team did as well.

Led by Manager Ronny Collins, the group of 15- and 16-year-olds claimed third place in the Senior League World Series, held in Jeffersontown, Ky. with a 3-2 record in the series.

An early loss to Tri-Boro/Mid-East, Penn. was followed by wins over WindMills, Netherlands and Pinery Park, Michigan. East Surry, N.C. eventually defeated El Campo to place the team in a battle for third place.

El Campo topped Pinery Park a second time to end their World Series campaign with a win and a third-place World Series trophy.

Campo High School El boasts three state championships in baseball - 1962, 1968 and 1982.

Other team achievements include the 1956 boys track championship and a state championship appearance by the 1967 football team.

The Ricebirds have made the playoffs 11 of the last 15 years in football, including the 2006 season in which the team finished third in District 24-4A with an overall record of 8-3.

Many individuals have won state championships in other sports as well over the years, including swimming, powerlifting and track and field.