Third is the word

The team returns home today. They will be honored with a parade starting at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Sterling High School. PORTLAND, Ore. - Third in the world, not a bad place to be. In a place where the grass is a little greener, the lights a little brighter, 11 girls who started out in gold and finished in green brought home the bronze. Sterling's 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars won third place by defeating Latin American Region champ Puerto Rico 3-2 Wednesday as the curtain closed on the Little League Softball World Series at Alpenrose Stadium. "Third in the world sounds really good," Sterling catcher Mackenzie Staples said. "It's not as good as first or second, but it's still all right." Staples drove in the tying run and scored the winning run when she stole home in the fifth inning of the victory. The Central Region champions took the World Series by storm, with their only losses coming to Simpsonville, S.C., and Robbinsville, N.J., by one run each. Those two played for the championship Wednesday night, with Simpsonville scoring a 9-5 victory. Sterling led by four runs going into the final inning of its game against Simpsonville, before falling 6-5 in eight innings. The Warriors lost 1-0 to Robbinsville on Tuesday, in a semifinal game televised on ESPN2. Now the girls head home, their magical summer finally coming to a close. "It sounds pretty amazing, finishing third," Bailey Oetting said. "That's pretty good, but I kind of want it to end. It's been a long year and I want to get back home." "You always want first," Darien Bardoner added, "but it's better to be third than last." The team celebrated a bit as it ran off the field after Wednesday's victory. About an hour later, many were watching the championship game, the last of the World Series. "It's hard to believe we're third in the world," Tessa Trujillo said. On 5:30 p.m. Friday, the team will find itself atop firetrucks and amid sirens as it is escorted around town for a parade commemorating their achievements. A dinner, which is open to the public, will follow. "I miss everybody," Priscilla Aponte said. "I can't wait to get back home."