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Little League's Taney Dragons Collect a Hometown Sportsmanship Award

By Mike Dougherty

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The magical, yearlong ride for the Taney Dragons continues, as the Little League baseball team was being honored today with the prestigious John Wanamaker Athletic Award.

Coach Alex Rice said he still can't believe his team was getting the same award as Philadelphia legends Mike Schmidt and Charles Barkley once received.

"It was just a year ago where we were sitting by ourselves on a bench on a dirt field, lucky to get parents to stay at practice and help out," Rice recalled today.

It's also been a hectic ten months for pitcher Mo'ne Davis, whose portrait graced a Sports Illustrated cover after the Dragons' performance in the Little League World Series.

Why did she think the Taney Dragons were such a great team?

"We knew each other for a long time and got to play with each other, play against each other, so that's a big thing, the chemistry between us," she said today.

Also recognized at the luncheon was the Special Olympics of Philadelphia. They were given this year's Levy Community Service Award, for their efforts to improve lives through sports.

 

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