The Canyon Lake Little League All-Stars returned home Thursday from the Little League World Series to a welcome-home celebration attended by about 200 family and friends at the Canyon Lake Little League field.

The All-Stars arrived at Rapid City Regional Airport from Williamsport, Pa., at 1:30 p.m. before receiving a police escort to their home field after a trip that saw them become the first team from South Dakota to make an appearance at the LLWS. Despite losing all three pool play games, the boys came home to a heroes' welcome.

"It was gigantic for the community," said Jacque Best, the grandfather of Canyon Lake player Logan Anderson. "The people in Rapid have been so good about supporting the kids. There were people out at the airport, people on the corners coming through town waving and clapping, it's just been unreal. The people of this town really support their youth and youth sports in general."

Rapid City Mayor Alan Hanks made an appearance and thanked the team for the way that it represented its town and state.

"What a proud city we are," Hanks told the assembled crowd. "We are thrilled, not only with the athletic ability that this team showed on the field, but with the way that they represented Rapid City off the field. The sportsmanship that you displayed and the great job that you did was a credit to our community."

Hanks noted that the Rapid City Council will recognize the team at its Sept. 2 meeting. There also will be a parade through downtown Rapid City beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Other speakers at the event included Canyon Lake president Dale Gisi, Southwest Middle School Principal Gordon Kendall and Greg McNabb, who read an e-mail from Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri, a former Harney Little Leaguer, congratulating and thanking the Canyon Lake boys for representing Rapid City so well. Gisi also pointed out that he had received calls from Little League's Midwest regional and national offices, and the United flight crew commending the boys for their exemplary behavior throughout the trip.

"They probably don't really know just what they did yet," Kendall said of the team. "But in the years to come, they will come to realize just what they've done for Rapid City. Thank you.

"It's easy to be a good sport when you win," Kendall continued. "It's not so easy when you're not on the winning side. The sportsmanship you showed is a credit to all of you."

The players, who had not been home in 24 days after winning the Midwest Regional in Indianapolis before heading to Pennsylvania, were all touched by the community support.

"It feels pretty good," Logan Anderson said. "I'm pretty used to it now after the last two weeks, but it's still really cool."

Jesse Riddle, who wrapped up his final season of Little League baseball with the trip, felt lucky to have been part of such an enthusiastic community effort.

"We absolutely couldn't have done it without it," Jesse said. "We got a lot of support from all over. We couldn't have done it without all the support and money that everybody raised for us."

Assistant coach Steve Nolan summed up the coaching staff's feelings on the past month.

"These boys were just an absolute joy to be with," Nolan said before choking up just a tad. "When you stop and think about it, you get a little emotional. The city of Rapid City, the parents and everyone else involved, thank you so much. The teamwork this team showed was unbelievable, the unselfishness was unbelievable.

"Everyone in Rapid City has a lot to be proud of."