The boys of Bellaire are still hometown heroes even though they lost the world championship on Saturday. Pa. As the Venezuelan players fell upon each other in a celebratory hug, Bellaire residents stood before a large screen TV in their community center to cheer proudly for their defeated team. While die-hard fans watched the final inning, bored little girls stood outside and whispered about crushes they had developed on the players. Little boys ran around the community center creating bases out of chairs, walls and tables dreaming of becoming the next Chuck Knoblauch or Jose Cruz Jr., major leaguers who once played for Bellaire High School. Teen-agers lounged at the back of the dark gym in lawn furniture or stretched out on beach blankets.
Residents say their sense of community is a greater prize than any baseball trophy.
This city of about 14,000, was long ago surrounded by its behemoth neighbor Houston's southwestward expansion. A lot of them aren't over five feet tall and they are skinny. Bellaire is no stranger to baseball glory. The city's high school, part of the Houston school district, last year tied South San Antonio's record of seven state championships. With its defeat, Bellaire failed to join the Houston National All-Stars of 1950 and Westbury of 1966 as the only local teams to a win a world title.