Eleven- and 12-year-olds from Hagerstown begin play Friday night at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
The Federal Little League All-Stars are the Mid-Atlantic regional champions and will face Jeffersonville, Ind., in their series opener.
The team's success this summer has forced proud parents to alter their work and vacation schedules. Moms and dads have already followed the team in recent weeks to the state tournament in Easton, Md., and the regional tournament in Bristol, Conn.
If the team moves past the opening round, some players could miss the start of school. The Washington County public schools open on Wednesday.