LAKEVILLE —They believed they could do it _ and they did.

FreeLake 8U All-Star team, consisting of players 8 and 9 from Lakeville and Freetown, placed in the top three at the Cal Ripken World Series in Cherry Hill, N.J. after their final game Saturday, Aug. 19.

The secret ingredient, manager Ed Rasar said, was confidence. 

Seeing talent from throughout the country and world can be intimidating, he said. “But they just kept on believing,’’ he said.

“It’s pretty amazing that a small town can compete with all the larger towns and states,’’ Rasar said at the completion of the tourney. 

Only the World Series finalists _ a team from Mexico and another from Hilltop, Pa. _ placed higher. Mexico won the title. 

In addition to the team title, two individual FreeLake players took awards. Brady DeTerra was named to the All-Defensive team and Cay Cay Rasar made the All-Defensive team and the All World Series Team. 

“It’s been fun,’’ Rasar said of their World Series experience. The team attended a Philadelphia Phillies game, had a pool party, “and made new friends’’ with players from other squads.

“We’re really good at working together,’’ player Zach Amaral said during a practice shortly before the team headed to New Jersey. “We make good plays in the infield, we’re good at hitting.’’

The fundamentals have led to their fun season, player Tyrus Araujo said. “Getting in scoring position, getting the bat on the ball and putting it in play.’’

The trip to the World Series caps a championship season for the youngsters.

The team won the District 5 Tournament; Eastern MA State Tournament and the New England Regional Tournament. 

Team players are: Zach Amaral, Tyrus Araujo, Maverick Chu, Brady DeTerra, Raleigh Lewis, Jeremiah Mcsheffrey, Lex Muse, Cay Rasar, Silas Rezendes, Ben Sass, Liam Souza and A.J. Vega

In addition to manager Rasar, the team is led by coaches Mark Sass, Peter Vega and Matt DeTerra.