Little League World Series

It's a great event. I made it there a few years ago. Very wholesome and family friendly. Great to see the joy of the game in the players. Some kid lent me his cardboard and I even did the hill. Wasn't pretty at my age, but the kid thought it was hilarious.

 

I've watched a couple of "Wheels'" highlight videos on YouTube of Lk. Mary and was very impressed with those kids. They can hit through the order, play good defense, and have been coached to apply pressure while on the bases - which I love at that level. Almost bit them, though, against S. Dakota.

Lk. Mary dismantling Tennessee ...

 

I watched Lake Mary win their second game. I was very impressed by their closer that came in. I think his name was Norton. He kind of had a Luis Tiant motion in his delivery but showed very good control. He struck out most of the batters he faced for 2 innings or so. Kid looked like he might have a future. Told myself to keep that name in the back of my mind if he shows up for the Gators some day. I hope I get to see him again in another game soon.

 

Update: LM lost to Texas in a one inning meltdown (multiple hit batsmen and wild pitches)
Beat Staten Island and Hawaii in the losers bracket and have another showdown with Texas,
I believe today. If L.M. has to face the same pitcher again, we're in trouble. Fingers crossed!

 

I believe they play Nevada tonight at 7 and then if they win they play Texas on Saturday. Tough road ahead for LM but you never know....

 

Matherly is correct: Nevada tonight @ 7. The same P/RF came in last night against Hawaii
and was clutch. They had the bases loaded, 2 outs and a runner on 3rd, Count goes to 3-2,
batter fouls off 2 and then strikes out. Game over. What a boost for the kid's confidence after
the Texas game. Grit

 

I was just a year older than the North Roseland (Chicago) Little League team that lost to Japan in the 1967 finals. I knew most of those guys. Some were in my grade at school but had fall birthdays.

Some were good guys and some were jerks.

 

Number 9 is Norton that I mentioned before. I'm hoping, if they get the lead tonight,. Norton comes in and shuts them down and it will be game over.

 

Agree. The Norton kid is special.

 

Glad LM won tonight so they can face Texas again on Saturday afternoon. Norton was the starter tonight and almost every pitch was a strike. Problem was he wasn't moving his fastball around and Nevada got him for 3 runs in the first. Fortunately LM already had 4 on the board.
Final 6-3

 

I coached youth baseball for 7 years when our son was growing up. In 1995 our Little League All-Star team (11 & 12 year olds) made it to the Florida State Championship game, where we lost to Plant City. At that time there were over 400 Little League associations in the state and it was a grind on the kids, coaches and parents, not to mention expensive, just to get that far. Practicing every day there wasn't a game, travelling, etc. It was a lot of fun with lots of memories, but I can't imagine the extra grind and expense for those teams that go to Regionals and then to Williamsport. Tremendous dedication. And it's all volunteers.

 

Now most of your better players and their families do this year-round. They almost have to if they want to keep up with the competition and get noticed. Same with football (7 on 7 tournaments/camps) and basketball (AAU/camps). Unless you're a freak athlete, you probably need to pick one sport and dedicate yourself to it by the time you are about 12 years old. Hence, we do not see many two sport college athletes anymore. As someone who loved and played multiple sports growing up, I say yuck!

 

Very true now. But back in the 90's when I was coaching, most of the kids played football in the fall and some also played basketball in the winter. A few played fall baseball, but not many. The year round thing burns out some kids, I think, and is too much strain on the arm for pitchers. Plus, kids that age just need a break to have fun. All the travel ball, etc month after month becomes more like a job. Of course, the very few who truly love the sport may thrive, but as an old guy, I prefer the good ole days!

 

The discussion of club teams that travel and play all year brings to mind the fact that Little League historically- certainly in my day, the '50s-'60s- have been recreation leagues. GVL had Babe Ruth League when my kid played in the '90s and club teams were just beginning around FL. He also played soccer, initially in the rec league, then on a club team. The soccer club development was a bit more mature than baseball at that time and NONE of the soccer club kids played in the rec league. Rec was something of a feeder for the club, but at least half the club team were the same guys who joined in the first season at age 9. The club team members formed the core of the four GVL HS teams. HS teams drew from as many as four age-group clubs so there were enough players to mostly fill teams, but it was HS teams that filled out their rosters from the rec league,

My question here is don't some of these top LL teams include kids who ought not to be on local rec teams? I don't just mean that the kids are big, I was a 6'2" klutz at 12. I'm not the sort of purist who considers oldtime players sacred, hates the DH, whines about poor bunting skills and worries about Negro League stars in the HOF. But I do love the purity of average kids playing and loving baseball. I miss- but don't complain about- kids so seldom playing pick-up baseball in the schoolyard or in the neighborhood street. I don't mind that the kids with top skills- and their parents- don't play in the rec leagues, in fact I'm glad they don't. Jocks on club teams with semi-jocks and nerds in the rec league means more kids learning about and loving baseball.

 

LLWS - one of my favorite sporting events. I had 2 sons that played and i coached Rec and travel ball. Watching 11 year olds turn a double play around 2nd is an exquisite kind of joy for my type.

Likely our kids competed with or against each other.

 

The best players don't play LL in many areas and haven't for some time.