More than 200 people greeted the Rowan County Little League softball team on Thursday night as they arrived home from winning the World Series in Portland, Ore.

The crowd of people, toting congratulatory signs, met the players and coaches in the parking lot of the former Salisbury Mall. A parade of law enforcement officers had escorted the team from the Rowan County line, through downtown Salisbury and to the former mall. A separate group gathered in downtown Salisbury to wave at the procession as it passed through.

As soon as the the bus came into view at the former mall, the crowd rushed closer to get a view of the team. The crowd quickly circled the bus and began cheering.

One day earlier, Rowan softball defeated a team from Rhode Island, 4-2, to win the Little League Softball World Series.

Dr. Steve Yang, the team’s head coach, only needed one word — exhilarating — to describe the team’s previous 24 hours.

“Everybody is tired, but everybody is running on adrenaline and energy from all this excitement,” Yang said. “I told the girls that for the next month or so, they’re gonna be celebrities in high demand.”

Thursday’s gathering was the first of two planned events for the softball team. On Saturday, supporters have organized a parade through downtown Salisbury.

The parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Richard’s Barbecue, 522 N. Main St.

It will go south to the intersection of Innes and Main streets, turn right on Innes and end at the intersection of Innes and Fulton streets. The team then will be escorted by police to Statesville Boulevard, turn left and go on to Hurley School Road. The procession will end at Salisbury Community Park, where a big welcome home party is being organized.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.