You're killin me, smalls!

Update: Big ESPN moment — Pearland Little League team achieves Sandlot stardom

Photo by John Beauge

Update: The Pearland Little Leaguers beat Eagle Pass 5-3 to win the Southwest Regional Tournament and advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Pearland will face the Midwest Region champion Aug. 20.

It's a summer dream come true: Pearland's own little leaguers are about to get some major attention from ESPN.

There are sure to be watch parties across town Thursday night when the Regional Final game against another Texas rival, Eagle Pass, is broadcast live at 6 p.m. on ESPN2 from Waco. Pearland just beat Eagle Pass 7-5 on Friday in the first day of the Southwest Regional tournament, and are so far unbeaten.

If Pearland wins the Southwest Regional championship, they head to that holy grail of little-boy-dom: The Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

The Little League World Series is extensively covered by ESPN. Pearland's team of 11 and 12-year-old All-Stars (the players come from five different Pearland Little League teams) has gotten here largely through its hitting power — it mercy-ruled another All-Star team 10-0 in the regional semifinals Tuesday night.

Beau Orlando, Jake Orlando, Mason Van Noort and Hunter Smith are some of the stars that are just one win away from Williamsport and plenty of camera time.

A classic glimpse into the 12-year-old boy psyche:

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This Week's Hot Headlines

Wealthy Houston suburbs with big holiday budgets lead our top 5 stories

Photo by freestocks on Unsplash

Residents in The Woodlands looove to do up the holidays.

Editor's note:It's time to recap the top stories on CultureMap from this past week. Our top news includes two spendy Houston suburbs that boast big holiday budgets, plus national acclaim for Houston's Afro-Mexican eatery. Looking for the best things to do this weekend? Find our picks here.

1. Affluent Houston suburbs top list of biggest holiday spenders in U.S. Two wealthy Houston suburbs are among the biggest spenders on holiday gifts in the U.S., with budgets well over $3,000.

2. River Oaks restaurant opens in Memorial with expanded menu and bold design. The wait is over for Memorial residents who were looking forward to visiting Relish Restaurant & Bar. Its new location opened December 2.

3. Esquire names Houston's Afro-Mexican eatery to best new restaurants list. Once again Houston is on Esquire's radar, with Chris Williams' Late August being named to the magazine's list of best new restaurants in America.

Late August exterior Late August is one of Esquire's best new restaurants. Photo by Leonid Furmansky

4. Expert panel drafts Houston's best bars and cocktails. On this episode of "What's Eric Eating," CultureMap editor Eric Sandler and six friends take on the Ultimate Houston Bar Draft.

5. Chopped champion's Indian-spiced fried chicken joint opens in Midtown. Pok Pok Po is now open, serving gluten-free fried chicken from chef Jassi Bindra.

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