Dave Perry, coach of the District 3 champion Brewer Senior League All-Star team, said his players began dreaming about playing in the Senior League World Series at Bangor’s Mansfield Stadium “when they were 9-10 years-old” and watching the games in the stands.

They’ll get their chance when they open the tourney against the Canadian champion beginning at noon on Sunday.

Brewer went 4-1 to win the district title, scoring 41 runs while allowing just 15.

“We’ve all wanted this forever,” said Brewer shortstop-pitcher Eric White.

“It’s always been a goal for us. We’ve been striving for it. We’ve had pretty much the same team the last two or three years. This group of guys has always been together,” agreed right fielder Dylan Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick said the key to the team’s success has been its “depth.”

“We have depth everywhere: hitting and defense,” said Fitzpatrick.

“And we have five or six pitchers who can throw if needed,” said pitcher-shortstop Chase Daniels, who picked up two of the wins in the district playoffs.

“We mix up our pitches. None of us throws hard but we all have decent off-speed pitches and we keep the hitters off-balance,” said White, who had a win in the districts.

White added that the team’s defensive play has been “unbelievable.”

White was the leading hitter in the districts with a .463 average. He also scored eight runs and knocked in five.

First baseman Matt Helfen hit .417 with four RBIs; catcher Andy Bush hit .400; Fitzpatrick hit .389 with five RBIs and six runs scored and Daniels hit .375 with five RBIs and four runs.

Perry said the team’s strengths have been its defense and aggressive base-running.

“We aren’t the best hitting team or the fastest team but we take extra bases when we can. We’re a smart base-running team,” said Perry.

Joining Helfen and either shortstop, White or Daniels, in the infield are second baseman Kyle O’Connell and third baseman Dave McNally.

O’Connell has been the defensive catalyst, making several sparkling plays.

Dylan Fitzpatrick is joined in the outfield by left fielder Josh Perry and center fielder Billy Bissell.

Jon Thombs and Bush share the catching.

Pat McEwen, who had the other win in the districts, joins White and Daniels in the starting rotation with Bissell and McNally handling the relief chores.

Sean Murphy has been a valuable pinch-hitter; Joey Perry has been an important pinch-runner and Joey Cox has been a resourceful back-up infielder.

The players have also benefited from their vast experiences in pressure games and they feel it will help them.

Five of them played for Brewer High School’s State Class B championship hockey team; six played for the Brewer High School baseball team that lost to Bangor 4-0 in the Eastern Maine Class A final.

And Thombs, Bissell, Daniels and White played for the Brewer Legion team that won the Zone 1 Tournament and just played in the State Tournament.

“We’ve played in huge games before so we know what it feels like and how to prepare for them,” said Bush.

Perry and his players are confident they can do well in the tourney.

“If we don’t walk people, play [good] defense and get timely hits, we’ll do okay. No District Three team has ever won two games in this tournament and that’s our goal,” said Perry who is assisted by Roger White and Tim Daniels.

“If we play up to our abilities, I think we can definitely go far,” said Helfen who, like his mates, is excited.

“To get to play other countries is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You want to try to prove yourself there,” said Helfen.