Winning the Little League Softball World Series is great. But shaking the president's hand is not exactly Bush league. Just ask the youngsters on the Simpsonville Stars softball squad.

The team, which won the series back in August, got to meet President George Bush on Friday and pose for pictures with the president and first lady.

"Both are memories you can never give up," said Breeze Davis, 13, shortstop for the Stars.

"I was like _ oh my gosh _ I was nervous. But it was fun when I got to shake his hand," added Amanda Storch, a 12-year-old who pitches and plays right field.

So, what was more exciting _ winning the series or shaking the president's hand?

"I can't tell," Storch said. "Both were a really big deal."

"The World Series," said Dee Dee Sullivan, 12, a catcher and centerfielder, without any hesitation. But she quickly added shaking Bush's hand "was a really big deal."

Air Force One touched down at the Charleston Air Force Base as the president and first lady stopped briefly en route to Kiawah Island on the coast and a reception sponsored by the Republican National Committee.

A drizzle let up as the president arrived. He was greeted by about 300 base personnel, their families and the softball team dressed in red, white and blue warmup suits emblazoned with the words "World Champions" on the back.

Meeting the president was as memorable for the Stars as they way the 11- and 12-year-olds won the championship last August in Portland, Ore.

The team was down to their last two outs before rallying for five runs to defeat a squad from Robbinsville, N.J., 9-5 and win the series.

The Stars are the first Little League team, boys or girls, from South Carolina to play in a World Series.