'It was his time to shine' - Proud parents talk Kiwi Chayton Krauss' winning Little League moment

Chayton Krauss celebrates with teammate Adam Cramer after driving in the game-winning run with a walk-off single off Pearland, Texas' Marco Gutierrez in the sixth inning. Photo / AP

The Kiwi parents of Little League star player Chayton Krauss are incredibly proud of their son, both for the winning run he hit at last weekend's Word Series championship qualifier, and for how he's dealing with the sudden fame that's followed.

The 12-year-old hit a single run, breaking a tie and securing victory for the Red Land (Lewisbury, Pennsylvania).

The win offered the Red Land a spot in the championship game against Tokyo.

Chayton, who moved from Christchurch with his family when he was just four years old, described the game as being like a battle.

"I feel really good," he said of the win.

His father, Paul Krauss said it was "hard to explain" how he felt after the victory.

"I knew he had that ability - it was his time to shine.

"I was kind of numb afterward. We [he and his wife] were really proud, we turned to each other and had a big hug."

The Red Land ultimately lost the following championship game against Tokyo, but Chayton's mother Pip said they were looking on the bright side.

"We had to remind Chayt that he got the opportunity to play against the best little league team in the world," she said.

Both Paul and Pip said the popularity of Little League baseball in the United States is incredible.

When a friend asked Paul Krauss to compare it to something in New Zealand, he originally said it was like the following top college rugby gets here.

"But now I think I was a bit off the mark."

Krauss said he and Pip had some idea how popular the junior sport was last year when Chayton made the cut to Pennsylvania's Little League team as an eleven year old, but they've truly realised the extent of the fandom in the States following last weekend's game.

"We went out to dinner at a kind McDonald's-style place and Chayton got swamped by people who wanted photos and autographs," he said.

"That kind of thing brings it home how big it is."

Pip Krauss said she too was amazed to realise how popular the junior sport was - nearly 46,000 people came to watch the championship qualifier against Texas.

"The funny thing is I think Chayt was more nervous having girls ask for autographs and photos with him than he was playing in front of that many people."

Chayton reckons he's adapting to his sudden fame well.

"It makes me feel pretty good," he said of being recognised in the street.

"It's cool."

Chayton said the attention doesn't make him feel shy: "I'm pretty confident."

Paul Krauss said his son was handling the attention with aplomb.

He said Chayton and his team mates always took the time to talk to people who wanted an autograph and were good about engaging with younger kids who looked up to them.

"As a parent it makes you pretty proud."

Chayton has been playing the great American game for "about six years".

"When we first moved here I played it with some friends in the backyard and I started to like it."

He said he hopes to make a career out of playing baseball and his dream is to one day play for the Baltimore Orioles.