The Backyard Batting Cage

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – They miss their friends and families, their hometown and other comforts, but Auburn's heroes, coaches and parents are enjoying the ride of their lives.

Entering Wednesday's crucial game with Southwest champion Pearland, Texas, the boys in green and gold were still trying to soak in their amazing run to the Little League World Series. Even the team's heroes, who have come up with big plays on offense and defense, say they have been humbled and awed by the experiences of the past week.

Auburn takes on Texas at 1 p.m. today (ESPN) for a berth in Saturday's U.S. championship game.

One of the big bats for Auburn, Isaiah Hatch, said he was living a dream when he came through with a big hit.

“I'll probably always remember hitting a home run here,” he said of his clout that broke open a tight, must-win game against New England on Tuesday. “It was a one-run game and that gave us a cushion.”

Playing in the World Series was a far-off dream for Hatch and his teammates when their journey began in June, he said. Getting here wasn't easy and it included having to beat the Washington state defending champion, Mercer Island, twice. Last year, Mercer made the incredible journey to South Williamsport and the Series.

Hatch said he and his teammates were sometimes nervous before the games here on the international stage.

“We're handling it (the pressure) OK,” he said. “We get a little nervous before the games, but then we get out on the field and we just play.”

The biggest challenge for him and his teammates?

“We miss home,” he admitted. The team had not seen home for more than three weeks.

Dylan Davis, one of his teammates, said he's been awestruck about making history for Auburn.

“We have gone the farthest Auburn has ever gone,” Davis said.

Defeating last year's Northwest Region champion was not lost on Davis or his teammates.

“The biggest challenge has been the teams we've been facing,” he said. “I'm surprised how big this is – so many people come to watch the games.”

Another of the big hitters, Casey Manning, seemed to fully realize just how special his team's improbable journey has been.

“This has been so exciting – this is a once-in-a-lifetime thing, so we're living it up and enjoying it for now,” Manning said.

“Just playing on these fields, meeting the other teams and how good they are, this has been awesome.”

Hitting two home runs in the World Series ranked among his top memories, too.

“The second one I sort of jogged it out around the bases,” he said, admitting he savored the moment a little more that time.

But the journey has also meant a little homesickness for Manning and his 'mates, but the hometown fans have made it worthwhile.

“Being away has been kinda hard, but I have a lot of friends there rooting us on and I've talked to my grandparents a lot,” he explained.

Parents excited, too

Meanwhile, the parents have been on the road almost nonstop as well. According to some, they feel like they are living La Vida Loca.

Some parents admit they feel the pressure of being on the road since Aug. 3 and watching their children play in bigger and bigger tournaments.

“We realized we might have a chance to get here when we beat Mercer Island twice in states,” said Jeff Lacey, father of player Ryan Lacey. “After beating them, all this (reaching the World Series) seemed like a real possibility.”

He said the parents don't seem worried, but are relieved to have reached the pinnacle, with their children, of youth baseball. One thing makes it all worth it.

“The joy on my son's face,” Lacey said. “I'll take that with me my whole life and I didn't even think we would get out of districts.”

Meanwhile, baseball mom Kim O'Grady, whose son Dillon has helped power the team during the Series, said she has had a big dose of nerves each time her son's team plays.

“I always feel nauseous right before the games,” she admitted. “But once it gets started, I settle down. You always want your son to do well.”

She said reaching the Series has been surreal for everyone involved and she has seen changes taking place.

“The kids have been excited and we've all been in shock,”O'Grady said. “Our boys are growing up before our eyes.”

Coach Dale Wilson, father of player Robbie Wilson, said the feeling of awe set in quickly for him and others once they reached South Williamsport.

“It's amazing – just the magnitude of how many people come to watch the games,” the coach said. “It's also amazing how all the little kids come to watch the games and support their favorite teams. It's all been fun.”

Judy Wilson, Robbie's grandmother, said watching him pitch in Tuesday night's game made the trip extra-special.

“I had wanted to see something special for my birthday (which was Tuesday),” she said. “Robbie got to pitch and when he came off the mound, he ran to my son and was lifted off the ground. That was special – he hadn't got to pitch until then.”

Dubbed “The Littlest Reliever” by ESPN's SportsCenter, Wilson pitched the last out of Auburn's 9-5 win over New England.

Even Auburn manager Kai Nahaku said he was impressed by the experience.

“What impresses me is the whole size of the World Series,” he said. “It's watching the kids interact with other kids and teams from around this country and around the world. It's been about enjoying what you can get through hard work.”

Big rematch

Now that Auburn beat Texas, 7-4, on Wednesday, it must beat the Southwest champions again today. Kai Nahaku said he gives his team even chances of winning.

“I think both teams are pretty much the same (in strengths),” he said. “We have to score and we have to keep hitting the ball and playing good defense.

Coach Wilson said Auburn's boys are playing good team ball and stand a good chance to win again.

“I think the kids are loose, they have high energy and they appreciate where they are at,” Wilson said. “They have settled down and they are enjoying this (playing here).”

====

Eric Long, a reporter with the NorthcentralPA.com team, is covering the series for the Auburn Reporter.

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by JC Fletcher on Jul 1st 2010 2:30AM

While the world's attention is on soccer, Activision would like to remind us of America's national pastime. Specifically, the subset of our national pastime that is played by weird-looking cartoon characters on the Xbox 360 and PS3: Little League World Series Baseball 2010.
Little League World Series Baseball 2010 -- ironically, a pretty long title for a "little" game -- will be in stores July 13.
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A community pep rally to support Pearland Little League all-stars as they head to the Little League World Series will be held from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, at the Rig in Pearland.
The team is expected to attend from 7-8 p.m.
In addition to wishing the team well before they take off for Williamsport, Pa., fans can help the team's fund-raising effort, which features food, souvenirs, hats and T-shirts for sale.
The league trying to raise money to help offset expense. If you would like donate to help player families attend the event, send a check to Pearland Little League, P.O. Box 1193, Pearland, TX 77588.
The Little League World Series runs Aug. 20-29.

1959 HAMTRAMCK LITTLE LEAGUE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS TO BE CHRONICLED IN NEW FILM

By Raymond Rolak

Special to the Polish News

 

Photo courtesy of Stunt3 Multimedia

HAMTRAMCK--  It was a homerun, the preview of the short-documentary, “The Legend of Pinky Deras: The Greatest Little-Leaguer There Ever Was”.  It all took place at the Hamtramck Community Center as players from the 1959 Hamtramck Little League National Champions and the 1961 Hamtramck Pony League National Champions were celebrated.

 It was supposed to be about celebrating Art ‘Pinky’ Deras.  He wouldn’t hear of it as he shared the spotlight with his former teammates.  The players in attendance received a standing ovation.  “That’s Pinky,” said Robert Miller, a 1961 Pony League Championship teammate.  “He was humble then and he is humble now.”

 Former Major Leaguer, Tom Paciorek highlighted the film with his great praise for Deras.  The statistics back him up and then some.  During that 1959 summer, Deras hit .641 with 33 home runs and 112 RBI’s.  “When Deras pitched, you couldn’t see the ball,” said Paciorek.  “And when he hit, well you had better walk him or it was a home run.”

 “We had a pre-glow reunion and a few ‘PIWA’ at The Polonia Restaurant and the Polish Village Cafe.  But I remember Pinky’s fastball was always a blur, added Paciorek with a laugh.”

 One of the great anecdotes of the evening was when Deras recalled, during his professional California League playing days, the evening he went out for dinner with Tom and John Paciorek.  “I think we were in Modesto, which was pretty heady stuff for three kids from Hamtramck.  That was the 60’s and I was probably a bit too free spirited.”   

The movie presentation had rare footage of the 1959 Championship game between Auburn, California and Hamtramck.  Kevin Deras (Art’s son) located the ‘lost’ 16-millimeter film at the Little League archives in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

 Deras kept shifting the spotlight from himself.  “Don’t forget Sid Cline pitched a great second game against Hawaii.  Hawaii had just become a State so there was a lot of excitement,” said the tall pitcher.  “I was big for my age, everyone caught up,” he added.  Mark Modich, another teammate said, “We were good as a team, but Pinky just had that much more talent.” 

 In the 1959 Finals, Hamtramck won three straight, Puerto Rico, Honolulu and Auburn.  It was on Aug. 29, 1959 when Deras pitched that championship game, a 12-0 shutout.  In all, Hamtramck won 13 straight games in their journey.  The mostly Polish-American community of Hamtramck went wild.  Their native son’s were Little League National Champions.

 In the preview there were scenes from the nationally televised, “The Lawrence Welk Show” that the Champs had appeared on and never before seen shots of the 1961 Pony League Championship from Washington, Pennsylvania. 

 Deceased and heralded educator, Joe Piasecki was remembered fondly for being such a great teammate.  Also, the other catcher, Greg Pniewski said, “I was the one who had to catch those fastballs and Pinky threw the equivalent of over 100 mile per hour.”

 The evening was sponsored by the Hamtramck Recreation Department and high praise went out to former Director Frank Wysocki who was so instrumental in the achievements of the Hamtramck baseball programs.

 Deras chronicled how successful the Hamtramck High School baseball teams were in the old Twin Valley Conference and former Detroit Tiger, Ike Blessitt, who was in attendance, agreed wholeheartedly.

 The writers and directors of the movie were present and moderated a spirited question and answer session.  Buddy Moorehouse and Brian Kruger introduced narrator, Oliver Darrow.  The large crowd gave the film makers another standing ovation.  “We are still editing and will make a few more tweaks,” said Kruger, President of Detroit based

Stunt3 Multimedia / Blue Hammer Films.

 The movie also highlighted the special recognition award the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame gave to the 1959 Hamtramck Little League National Champions.

“I didn’t save many mementos but I have my photo with Stan Musial from when I was at spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals,” said Deras.  Deras retired recently after spending 30 years as a Warren Public Safety Officer.

 Paciorek reiterated, “Pinky was the best 12 year old baseball player ever and he was the best 14 year old baseball player ever.  I have seen many and he was the best.”

 The film will again be previewed Sunday, August 29, on WXYZ-TV Detroit Channel 7 at 1:00 PM before the ABC-ESPN presentation of the 2010 Little League World Series at 3:00 PM.   

 Copies of the DVD which is expected to be 42 minutes long are available at www.stunt3.com

1959 Hamtramck Little League National Champions

 Chester, John
Cline, Charles
Cline, Sid
Dembeck, Richard
Deras, Art
Ferrebee, Reginald
Heald, William
Jones, Kenneth
Lepkowski, Steven
Milewski, Michael
Modich, Mark
Piasecki, Joseph
Pionkowski, Eugene
Polich, James
Pniewski, Gregory
Przytoysz, Matthew
Scott, Mark

  (Raymond Rolak is a Michigan based Sports Broadcaster.)

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Sports Editor’s playbook, Oct. 26, 2010

Here is something I have never spoken out loud, nor have I written on the Sun’s pages – or blogged on for that matter. Through eight weeks of the football season, Sherburne-Earlville has the best record in Chenango County. Actually, the Marauders share the top spot with Bainbridge-Guilford with identical 5-3 marks, but you understand the point being made. The word excellence combined with Sherburne-Earlville football have not gone hand in hand in a long, long time. Mike Jasper, second-year coach for the Marauders is heading up the Marauders’ revival, and the success has started on the lowest levels he said. The feeder programs – the modified and junior varsity teams – are producing winning programs, and that winning is contagious as the kids move up the ranks. “Kid are starting to get the philosophy of what it takes to be a winning program,” Jasper said. “You need to work hard in the offseason so you can be better on the JV and varsity.”

I have had to field queries and requests on the forthcoming subject multiple times this year, and dozens of times over the years. In the above paragraph on S-E football, I briefly alluded to a modified team. That is about as much modified sports coverage as you’ll ever see in our paper or any other newspaper.
According to state regulations (and you can follow up with your school’s director of athletics), media coverage of modified sporting events is prohibited. Jack Jones, retired AD at Norwich, filled me in on the specifics of those rules over a decade ago. He told me, at that time, that the only media coverage of modified sports that is allowable was to announce sports interviews and physicals. Modified sports are a “developmental level” only, and he added that a school’s violation of the modified sports media coverage rule is subject to penalty by the state. That said, I cannot think of any school that has ever been penalized for allowing modified sports results to reach the local media. It simply is not done.
I took notes from my conversation with Mr. Jones, and transcribed the scrawlings to my computer in the event I would ever need to refer to them. I have needed to refer to those notes often this year. It seems that parents – and a couple of coaches not familiar with the rules – are compelled to fill me in on the accomplishments of their respective team of interest. The eagerness and pride is apparent in all of their voices, and I feel bad telling them that sports coverage of modified sports is not allowed. I have kids involved in sports, just like all of the parents who have called me. My kids will have to wait until they’re playing a varsity sport before I can write about them.
Some people have pointed out over the years that they have seen Pop Warner results, Little League, Chenango Chargers soccer, and YMCA youth sports in The Evening Sun sports section Publishing results of those young kids seems like a contradiction, yet the my reply to those people is simple: All of those sporting clubs are private organizations not affiliated with a school district, and those organizations do not have strict rules – like New York State – that forbid media publication.
I applaud all of the young kids competing in modified sports this year that are finding success on the playing field, and I look forward to publishing their accomplishments once they reach their varsity team.

– For those keeping track, Norwich’s football game at Oneonta last Friday was the 81st revival of the rivalry that dates back to 1925. The Tornado won for the second straight year clinching a playoff spot in the process, and increased its series lead to 47-33-1.

– I spoke about Greene’s boys’ soccer team last week, and I have another update. After finishing in a three-way division tie with Walton and Unatego, the Trojans drew the short straw, and had to play a first-round division playoff game with Unatego. Walton earned a bye through the luck of the draw. The Trojans followed up a 3-0 win over Unatego with an even more impressive 5-0 victory against Walton. Tonight, the Trojans took a break from league playoff games to start the real postseason. Greene upended Sidney, 6-0, and has now outscored its last three opponents, 14-0. Wednesday, Greene reverts to MAC action when it plays at Delhi at 3:30 p.m. for the league championship. Win or lose, the Trojans (14-4) will be back in Section IV playoff action on Friday.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 26th, 2010 at 8:23 pm and is filed under Evening Sun Headlines. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Aboutpretty women-jeanslatest news,information of pretty women-jeans?Uncategorized Loisaida Little league By admin on October 1st, 2010

Hungover couples eating outside Sidewalk Café gave them the thumbs up. The women at Sixth Street Pilates cheered from their studio window. On Avenue D, I thought I saw a pit bull smile. That’s what a parade can do.

This morning, this parade was special. It was the annual parade for opening day of the Felix Millan Little League from the Lower East Side. This year’s parade marked the league’s 30th anniversary. And what a parade it was.

Cheerleaders, banners, painted signs. A miniature marching band was anchored by a line of eager teenagers banging big bass drums. A little boy on the corner of East Fourth Street covered his ears.

Manny Rodriguez hugged me as soon as he saw me. Manny is a toucher. He hugs or touches everyone as he walks by. He has that ability to make each kid—and the kid inside each adult—feel special around him. It’s good to know Manny.
Manny runs the parade. He runs everything. The Felix Millan Little League has only had one (unpaid) volunteer president for 30 years. That’s Manny.

In a time before A-Rod, J-Lo or even Los Mets, there was Felix Millan; a quiet and consistent second baseman for the New York Mets. Felix Millan meant a lot to Latino kids in Alphabet City when he arrived in 1973. A year later Miguel Piñero’s “Short Eyes” took home plenty of awards and Miguel Algarin opened the Nuyorican Poets Café on East Sixth Street. In Felix Millan, “the community” now had a sports role model who reflected the pride and dignity and love Latin-Americans had for the so-called American pasttime. Twenty years later, Latin players would dominate the major leagues.

Manny Rodriguez knew what Felix Millan meant and he knew what it would mean to his neighborhood for their kids to have something to do in the summer. In 1977, he put up fliers, punk rock style, all over the Lower East Side and Alphabet City, announcing try-outs of the “Felix Millan Little League.” Forty kids showed up that day. Today he’s got 500.

John Solano, 37, marched with the parade. He lives on E. 12th and Avenue C. He started playing in Felix Millan Little league when he was 6 years old. Now he has a son, Jacob, who’s marching in the parade. “It’s the next generation now,” says John, getting a little misty. “Keeps kids off the streets, out of trouble.” He looks both ways and says quietly, like he’s telling me a secret “It’s better than spending a summer doing nothing, just going to the pool once a week.”

The parade started promptly at 11 a.m. on Avenue A and East Second Street. Coaches and parents marched with players dressed in full uniforms. Big smiles. This is a local league with local people. The team sponsors are local sponsors like the “The Acevedo Family,” “Mom’s Pizza on Avenue D” and “A.E. Supply Corp.” Not a whiff of Phil Hartman.

To be sure this parade was not without its heavy hitters: Congresswoman Nidia Velasquez headed the throng—turns out the she and Felix Millan hail from the same hometown in Puerto Rico, Yabucoa. “My brothers went to school with him,” she gushed. “I was home in Puerto Rico last month and who is shouting to me in the street but Felix Millan!” It’s all just one big neighborhood, you see.

Believe me, Millan is everything they say, I met him. Three years ago, Manny took me and filmmaker Christopher Frieri up to opening day for the Bronx Little League where they were honoring Millan. I watched that man sign an autograph for every single kid until the very last kid—even the kid who came back after the line was finished—got one. Mets fans in the 1970s knew Millan for doing the same thing at every home game. No other player did that. No other player felt so connected.

After all those autographs, Millan sat with me in a van on Walton Avenue while I interviewed him for my then-weekly column in the now sadly departed New York Sport Express. Never was there a man so gracious or grateful or giving. We talked for a long time. Chris captured amazing stills. Millan told stories about Tom Seaver and Hank Aaron. He forgave Ed Ott for body-slamming him. He shared that his granddaughter aspires to a career in country music and takes guidance from Tim McGraw, the bastard child of Tug McGraw, and his wife Faith Hill. What a sweetheart.

Later that year, I departed from interviewing famous New York sports figures for one week and did a Q&A with two of the Felix Millan Little Leaguers. Manny loved that. So did I. I included both interviews in my book that got published a year later and I invited Manny as an honored guest to the book launch at Arlene’s Grocery. When I brought him up on stage, Manny characteristically deflected any praise by presenting a plaque to Arlene’s Grocery for sponsoring a team that summer. The guy is too much.

By noon—right on schedule—Manny had pied-pipered the parade down to Diamond #6 at East River Park. The artificial turf field, a perk from an improbable post-9/11 Erin Brockovich/ABC Television renewal project, didn’t look like the same rock, grass and dirt from 30 years ago, but the spirit was there. The Domino Sugar factory sat unbowed across the East River and Williamsburg Bridge marked the southern horizon. Someone decorated the top of the fence behind the backstop with miniature Puerto Rican and American flags. Best of all, they had put together dozens of photographs on poster boards, chronicling the league’s 30 years. Manny was in every picture. He posed with Mayors Bloomberg and Giuliani, with Mets Millan and Mookie. He even took one with Don Mattingly. You saw the kids, the coaches and parents from year after year after year. It was a loving scrapbook of a community that stuck together and persevered together through three decades in this city.

You could almost hear their voices. We’re not visiting. We have families. We have memories. We live here. They’ve seen the frat kids replace the hipsters who replaced the real artists who replaced the addicts. The LES is not a theme park for them. It is home.

The teams sat Indian-style along the baselines as Manny emceed the opening day ceremony on the infield grass. Two guys from the neighborhood sang the U.S. and Puerto Rican anthems. There were citations, commendations and introductions. Manny even introduced me. Nidia Velasquez danced to a short musical performance. It was almost time to cut the giant homemade chocolate cake with the plastic Felix Millan figurine planted in the icing. Each kid got a thick slice. Just perfect.

Nidia Velasquez was just about to throw the season’s first pitch when fire trucks and police cars with full lights sirens blazed toward the field. Out of nowhere an NYPD helicopter circled above. How cool, I thought, Manny had really outdone himself. But it was not for them. It was a rescue. Somebody fell off a boat into the East River.

Later, there were games. The Cardinal beat the Warriors 2-0. The Royals clubbed the Puerto Rico Stars 12-4. The Renegades topped the Cyclones 14-8, and the older division Renegades outlasted the Lions 18-14. Summer on the Lower East Side had officially begun.

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Aug21st AUTHOR: Ryne Gery | IN: Ryno Report | COMMENTS: 30 Comments |

Baseball is romantically described as a kids game. The diamond is at the center of childhood in its purest form. Baseball cards, a game of catch or pepper, watching the game with dad, making the trip to the big ballpark. Yes, the love of baseball is developed at a young age in many ways.

But playing the game is where the magic is. The feeling of smoking a line drive off the sweet spot and rounding first with a single is sweet. Or charging a ground ball and throwing out the runner a split second before he hits the bag for the out and then throwing it around the infield with confidence is sweet. The competition and sense of accomplishment in baseball is so rewarding and magnetic. For a few hours, you get to play the same game Derek Jeter plays – you get to feel the excitement that he does every day.

The romantic relationship with baseball hits another level when a kid finally gets to take the field in a game. The kid gets to experience the magic for himself.

It all starts with Little League.

Thousands of kids sign up for Little League every spring. They break out their gloves and bats and play ball. It should be simple and beautiful. It should be magical.

But Little League has taken away the magic over the years. The kids game is losing its innocence sooner with every passing year. Baseball in reality is not a kids game anymore – not when it comes to playing the game.

Little League is spoiled by a climate of politics and by a win-at-all-costs attitude. The innocent and fun spirit that Little League is supposed to stand for was lost long ago.

Kids used to play pick up games in the park for hours. Today, it’s never done. The only baseball games going on are controlled by adults. They umpire, coach, and complain at every game at Little League complexes across the country.

The result: a growing culture of superstar 12-year-olds who already know it all. They have the most expensive equipment. They can rattle off their batting average at the drop of a hat. And they let you know that they are God’s gift to baseball.

To make matters worse, ESPN is there every summer to add to the vicious cycle. These kids are already arrogant. Now, they have TV cameras to pose for and commentators telling them how great they are.

The Little League World Series has become a spectacle every August thanks to ESPN. It has also become a joke. Televising 12-year-olds playing baseball takes away the simple joy of the game. The tournament should not be a national event putting more pressure on kids to perform; it should be for the parents and families to enjoy – without the TV crews and flock of strangers to Williamsport.

Then, maybe Little League could keep perspective. It’s supposed to be about fun and learning the fundamentals of the game, not winning trophies and becoming a star.

Youth sports are supposed to instill respect for the game and for others. But that lesson in reverence for the game has disappeared. These kids are on TV hitting 250-foot home runs with aluminum bats. They’re stars. Who needs respect when you have talent?

This attitude is what has caused major league baseball so many problems over the last decade. Players are caught up in personal image and success rather than playing the game the right way. The need to be a star is at the root of the steroid era.

Just look at Roger Clemens and where vanity landed him in life.

Or Sammy Sosa who has lost all significance after a power surge likely boosted by steroids.

The obsession with the strikeout and the home run in baseball made for the superficial era.

Ryne Sandberg asked how this all happened in his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2005: “When did it become okay for someone to hit home runs and forget how to play the rest of the game?”

The answer: Little League.

Puerto Rico played Germany today to open the international side of the bracket in the Little League World Series. The kids representing the Caribbean won in four innings over Ramstein Air Base, 11-0.

But the Germans aren’t the ones who should be embarrassed after Friday’s game. No, that distinction goes to the Puerto Rican team for its poor sportsmanship during the win.

ESPN made sure everyone knew Puerto Rico had big league connections. Jose Valentin who hit 249 home runs mainly for the Brewers and White Sox has a son and two nephews on the team coached by his father who also played ball in his day.

Unfortunately, Jose didn’t teach his son about respect.

Yomar Valentin hit a three-run home run early in the game to put Puerto Rico up 5-0. Yomar then flipped his bat in the air and jogged around the bases with a little too much swagger. He then greeted his teammate at the plate with a handshake and point to the sky. Wow.

All that for one home run. All that from a Little Leaguer. From start to finish, it was a model of disrespect. It’s not about him having fun with his teammates or being excited that he hit a home run. He showed up the other team and it looked like he had some practice too. And it’s not about culture either. Baseball only knows one language. There are no other interpretations.

Yomar disrespected the other team. And ESPN ate it up.

A little later in the inning, his cousin Victor Valentin hit a homer and he too gave the bat a nice flip on his way to first.

Yomar would hit another homer later in the game and he showboated again. This time, he flipped the bat and pointed to the crowd on his way to first. Obviously, this team knows how to celebrate a little too well.

The atmosphere surrounding the Little League World Series with the cameras and commentators only makes it worse. Bobby Valentine overanalyzes errors and base running mistakes made by 12-year-olds. They’re supposed to make those mistakes even if they are superstars.

The mistakes they should make are simple. They should know the rules of sportsmanship and respect every time they take the field. The only other rule: have fun.

That’s what Little League is about because no one cares who wins these games. These kids aren’t going to play in the big leagues (only a few have ever played in the LLWS and MLB) so they should just enjoy being kids and playing baseball.

In case the coaches and players need a refresher on the first rule about sportsmanship, Ryne Sandberg’s speech is perfect.

“I was in awe every time I walked on to the field. That’s respect. I was taught you never, ever disrespect your opponent or your teammates or your organization or your manager and never, ever your uniform,” he said. “Make a great play, act like you’ve done it before, get a big hit, look for the third base coach and get ready to run the bases, hit a home run, put your head down, drop the bat, run around the bases, because the name on the front is a lot more important than the name on the back. That’s respect.”

A lesson in respect will be much more valuable for these kids in life anyway. Baseball may not work out, but treating others right is the first step to living a good life.

If this is the best it ever gets for these kids, something’s wrong.

It means baseball has lost its magic. It’s not a kids game anymore.

And that’s a tragedy.

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Posted by: Meagan Kanagy - Posted in Scarsdale, Sports on Oct 10, 2010

Batters wait their turn to try for 10 home-runs at Scarsdale Little League Field during Will’s Home-Run Derby this afternoon. Will Eisler, 12, used his Bar Mitzvah gifts to fund the event, held to raise support for ALYN Hospital, a children’s rehabilitation hospital in Jerusalem, Israel. To see more photos from Will’s Home-Run Derby, please visit our gallery at LoHud.com.

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By Ck Egan , wife of Former Radio Guy and General Manager, Rob Egan

When my oldest son was born, my husband immediately had visions of baseball games dancing in his head. Little league games, high school games....lots of cheering from the stands, coaching in the backyard and pick-up games at the playground. Friends and family showered us with countless baseball outfits, sleepers, toys etc. baseball was in the kid's future. When our youngest son was born two years later, the cycle started all over again.

Our boys loved the ballpark from a very young age. It was their own personal playground. They loved running around on the field after the games, they loved all the bats, balls and hats. They were too young to show any real inclination for the sport, but they were definitely familiar with the game. Our youngest son especially, seemed to show some athletic ability. The kid could (and would!) run like the wind. Rob was pleased.

Rob has always been a huge sports fan. Baseball has always been his first love. At a young age, it was apparent (so I'm told.) that Rob lacked much in the way of athletic prowess. What he lacked in skill, he made up for in knowledge. He became a true student of the sport. I think this is why he made such a good broadcaster. He knew the game, and knew it well. He has amazing recall of stats, names, rules etc.

While Rob was accepting of the fact that he was not an athlete, I think he expected to live vicariously through his boys. What parent doesn't do this? Completely normal.
But our boys? Not normal.

At age three-and-a-half our oldest son Drew, was diagnosed with autism. Simple things like waiting his turn or not succeeding the first time, were extremely difficult for Drew to deal with. He also had poor upper body strength and his coordination was lacking.

This is hard news for any parent to hear and accept. In my experience, it's easier for the Mom. Moms are more "ok, that's the problem/issue. Now, what can we do?" Dads, especially with their sons, need to mourn that boy and man they always thought their son would be. For Rob, that was an athlete. Playing baseball was just not in the cards for Drew.

A few years later, our younger son Gabe, was also diagnosed with autism. This diagnosis was harder on both Rob and me. Two? Really? It took a little longer to find our pace, but we did. And once again, there was the mourning period.

Around this time, a new baseball field was being built in town. It was a Miracle League field. This was immediately exciting for us. The Miracle League was the baseball answer for us, as well as many other families in our area. The field is rubberized, and cushioned. Perfect for kids with coordination issues, as well as those who use walkers or wheelchairs. The Miracle League is all-inclusive. Anyone, of any age, who has a disability or special need, can play baseball. At our Miracle League we have athletes with down's syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, blindness and a myriad of other diagnoses. We have children as young as three years old, and adults in the forties.

Everyone bats, everyone gets a hit, and everyone scores a run. There are no outs, and every game ends in a tie. Buddies are provided to help the athletes as well as protect them. We play two innings, singing Take Me Out to The Ballgame in between.
It is an experience everyone should take part in. It is inspiring, heartwarming and fun. The kids are excited to wear their "uniforms" and to be a part of a team.

At the end of the season, every player receives a trophy, with their name engraved on it.
Are our boys gifted baseball players? No, not really. Drew can hit, and his throwing and catching is coming along. Is he ready for little-league? Not so much. Even at age ten, waiting his turn is difficult. Getting tagged out, called out or striking out would be devastating for him. He tends to be a bit of a ball-hog, so fielding would be problematic as well. He proudly plays Miracle League Baseball. He wears the uniform of his Dad's team, the Altoona Curve, and he wears it proudly.

Gabe will likely never play little-league either. I don't think this bothers him a bit. He has no interest in fielding, he just wants to hit and run. If he touches at least two of the bases as he runs by, we consider it a success. Personally, I often think he loves the Miracle League games because of the pretty young girls who often buddy. Eight years old and he's girl crazy to the max.

Miracle League baseball has become an important part of our lives. It gives our boys a chance to play the game that their Dad loves so much and that they spend so much time watching. It's an opportunity to visit with other parents in similar situations. Our (very VERY regular ed.) daughter runs around with the other siblings and cheers on her brothers. It's a wonderful experience for us all.

Miracle league has a wonderful motto: "Every Child Deserves A Chance to Play Baseball"

I couldn't agree more.

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8/25/2010 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- The 11- and 12-year-old Kaiserslautern Military Community All-Star team made its second consecutive trip to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., after winning the Europe Region Tournament Aug. 3.

This is the sixth time a team from Ramstein Air Base has earned a spot in the tournament and is the 15th time Germany made the LLWS.

"Getting to the LLWS is something I always wanted to achieve myself since I was growing up in Oklahoma and watching the tournament," said Gary Harrington, KMC All-Stars head coach. "By far, this is the hardest division and regionals I ever had to go through."

It takes a unique group of athletes to advance to the LLWS while competing in a difficult division.

"This was a special group," the coach said. "This was the team that had more fun together and played as a team more than any other team I had coached."

Having fun is a crucial factor in competing at such a high level, Mr. Harrington said.

"You have no idea how it feels; it's such a rush," said Stanford Hurley, a KMC All-Stars centerfielder. "I've wanted to do this a long time ago, and now, we have the chance. It's amazing because we're all best friends. Everybody has a good laugh, and we always have fun together."

Although baseball can be fun, a this team will turn on their game mode when the time comes.

"Even when we get on the field, it's a serious type of fun," the centerfielder said. "We are like a big happy family. When you are playing with people you like, you play better -- that's what makes us a team. Having friends and buddies on the team brings it all together."

While teammates are close with one another on and off field, it helps to build rapport and motivation for big games. For Stanford, he has an added incentive.

"My dad is deployed to Southwest Asia and won't be able to see us play," he said. "He calls a lot, but it has to be quick because he is deployed. When I told him we were going to the World Series, he was like 'Yes! I'm so proud of you.'"

Stanford's father said he would be proud and supportive of his son whether if he's sitting behind the dugout or deployed almost 7,000 miles away.

"I'm thrilled for Stan and his teammates," said Maj. Stephen Hurley, the Combined Force Air Component Commander watch officer. "It's certainly memories that he and the team will relish for a lifetime. It's been difficult, though, to not be able to share the experience this summer with them."

Coach Harrington noted he thinks Stan's father being deployed affects him, but not necessarily in a bad way.

"In a way, him being deployed makes me want to play harder, so when he gets the news, he knows that I produced," Stanford said. "I want him to know that I played good and I tried my best."

Although catching the news may be a little more difficult while being deployed, the centerfield's father will adjust to see his son in the big show.

"If the games are fed to AFN Europe, I will not let something as trivial as sleep keep me from watching them," Major Hurley said. "It appears that I can flex my work schedule, if necessary -- now I just have to hope they are televised."

With a connection spreading across the world for a team that's trying to become the best, the coach wants his players to know one thing:

"In the end, yes we made it to the World Series, but I think these kids will take the experience, look back at it and know they had fun," the coach said. "There's a lot of pressure when the games come, but I believe they have succeeded because they knew how to have fun. Yes, we are going to try and win. Are we expected to win? No, but that gives us an edge against some teams, because we have the spirit."

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They started creeping up a few weeks ago in Cincinnati. There were a dozen or so kids under the age of 12 on carbon fancy tubular wheels. Whatever.

This weekend we parked near a junior. He had two matching 4000 dollar bikes (at least). His dad had a stopwatch and was telling him exactly how long his intervals had to be during his warm up (while riding said carbon tubulars on the trainer). His dad also dropped a few F bombs at his kid while "prepping" him for his race.

I dont want to dog on one person that I was near just cause I heard certain things, but honestly some people just bum me out. I give this kid a few years until he fights his dad. This is the same dad who a few weeks ago told me how to ride a section of a course, but I dont think he actually has ever ridden a bike.

Elbows:
So I am riding in a pack of four dudes yesterday. All of them were faster than me. I am third wheel. Into each turn for an entire lap, fourth wheel dude leaned on me and threw hard elbows at me. He sat on (just like I did) on the pavement while Bad Andy towed us around, but then for some reason wanted to just lean on me. I just kept asking him WTF dude? He informed me that it is a bike race and that I am a pussy and that I am pack fodder. Cool man. I saw him post race and realized that he was one of 2 or 3 dudes in the race that I could maybe beat up (It would be a toss up between me and this dude, mcgrath and bad andy). Anyway, if you want to pass me, just do it where it require skill or fitness and I will for sure let anybody around, but to try to force somebody over is just not cool. Keep that shit out of cross.

Whatever.... On to happy things! I had BOTH people who read my blog tell me so this weekend. Thanks guys! I wont embarrass you guys by saying your names. Then you cheered for me! Awesome!

Products:
I recently got aFancy Carbon Blue Norcross SL. I could be all like "this bike is sooooo much better than my last bike," but that is obvious cause my last bike was a 300 dollar aluminum redline. I will say that I also got the standard Norcross for a pitbike. It is aluminum, and it is nicer than the redline. The carbon one is sick light and real fast and accelerates super super quickly. Needless to say, I am super stoked on the Blue bikes.

Coaching. No seriously I have a coach. So for a few months I have been using a coach. I havent really talked about it yet to many people cause I didnt want to be like "yo I got a coach" then get double lapped or whatever. But I have been happy with my results, and I feel like I am going pretty good. Cross is so freaking hard to measure. I try to measure myself against guys around me, and I wanted to start finishing 1 group in front of where I used to finish, but I think the dudes from that group also got faster. I could talk about my power numbers and stuff, but then I think that in the past I said that if I blog about my power numbers you can kick my ass. So where doe that leave me?
Friday going into race day, I am sure that I am ready. There is not hesitation. I think all bike racers get it. When I walk upstairs the night before a race, I try to feel out how my legs feel, then I wonder if I am too fatigued or whatever. It is nice to go into a race knowing that you are prepped, not too fatigued, and ready to race. The workouts are not TOO far off of what I have done in the past, but it is when they are done, and how much addition riding happens. So all in all, I am really happy. And as lame as it sounds, it is nice to have somebody else to own up to. Last Wednesday, it was 45 and raining and I still went out and did intervals. I am sure that would not have happened if I did not have to send the files to somebody.

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PLANT CITY, Fla. -- Like thousands of Little Leaguers playing this summer across the country, young Chelsea Baker never gave much thought to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

She does now.

She's actually going to be in it , not just as a visitor walking through the baseball shrine.

Baker, 13, will be honored Monday when her Plant City Little League jersey -- Brandon Farms, No. 12 -- will be placed in the Diamond Dreams exhibit on the second floor of The Hall.

"I guess I knew a little bit about (the Hall of Fame) before, but once he (her stepfather) really explained it to me, I was in shock,'' Chelsea said Tuesday from her home. "What an honor. This whole thing is pretty amazing to me right now.''

Although there are young girls playing baseball with and against the boys everywhere in America today, Baker's story is unique because of the amazing success she has had, and because of her knuckleball, taught to her by former major league great Joe Niekro shortly before he died in 2006. She was only eight years old at the time.

Chelsea already was planning to be in Cooperstown next week playing for the Sparks, a touring girls baseball team that is part of the Baseball For All organization. The Sparks will competing in the Cooperstown Dream Park Tournament against boys teams of the same age.

No one knows how the Sparks will do, but it was Chelsea's Little League season in Plant City that caught the attention of the Hall. She will be the youngest baseball player ever honored by the Hall with her jersey inclusion.

As a pitcher and the only girl in the league, she threw two perfect games during a season in which she finished with a 12-0 record. Her team finished 29-1. Also playing third base, she batted .604 with five home runs, including her first career grand slam. In four years, she never lost as a pitcher.

"When I first heard they wanted her jersey, I thought, `you've got to be kidding.' When I realized it was real, I got goose bumps on my arms the size of four-inch nails,'' said stepfather Rod Mason, who helped coach her Brandon Farms team. "My jaw is hurting from smiling so much.''

Mason received the request last month for Chelsea's jersey from John Odell, the Hall of Fame Curator of History and Research. Mason was stunned. Here was part of the official request.

``. . . . . .As we discussed, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has an exhibit dedicated to the history of women in baseball, entitled "Diamond Dreams." This exhibit traces the multifaceted role of women playing the game from the 1800s to the present.

It has come to our attention that your daughter, Chelsea, pitched a pair of perfect games over the past 12 months. We believe this is unusual, and we would like to recognize her feat by requesting the permanent donation of her jersey to the collections of the Hall of Fame. The jersey we request would be the one she used when she pitched the second of her two perfect games, which according to our research, she did on April 9, 2010.

While we cannot guarantee the permanent exhibition of any artifact, it is our intent to display Chelsea's jersey in the Diamond Dreams exhibit noted above.''

Please discuss this matter with Chelsea. If you and she would be willing, we would like to accept the donation of the jersey during a small photo op here at the Hall of Fame. . . . . . . Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to answering any questions you and Chelsea might have. .

Best,
John Odell.
Curator of History & Research
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
25 Main St.
Cooperstown, NY 13326

Her jersey in the Diamond Dreams exhibit will be alongside Effa Manley, the only woman enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame, a former owner of the Newark Eagles of the Negro League. Also part of the exhibit is memorabilia from the All-American Girls Professional League, which was prominent during WWII; and the Colorado Silver Bullets, the former touring women's baseball team.

Her jersey will be the second addition to the Diamond Dreams exhibit this year, following a jersey received from Eri Yoshida of the Golden Baseball League, who is pitching professionally at the age of 18 for the Chico (California) Outlaws.

The exhibit already includes a baseball that was given to Margaret Gisola in 1928 from Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis when he upheld her right to play American Legion Baseball; a cap worn by Little Leaguer Maria Pepe in 1972 after she won a lawsuit that allowed her to play in Hoboken, N.J.; and a jersey worn by Katie Brownell of Oakland, N.Y, after she struck out all 18 batters she faced in a Little League game in 2005.

Chelsea already has been honored by Major League Baseball before a Tampa Bay Rays game, and she was honored by throwing out the first pitch Saturday at the New York Yankees' Florida State League affiliate's game in Tampa, Fla. The Hall of Fame request will take her stardom to another level.

The ceremony will be held Monday, August 16 at 1 p.m.

"This is a once-in-lifetime thing,'' Chelsea said. "It makes me really proud. It's just so unbelievable.''

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SHREWSBURY – The leaves have barely even begun to change color, and it’s already time to start thinking about next spring!   Shrewsbury Little League opened up registrations this week for the season beginning in April 2011.   Once those teams fill up, they’ll be creating a waiting list, and every year many who waited too long are simply shut out of the process, so the time is now to get online and get those boys and girls registered.

The direct link to the registration system is right here.

http://www.sportssignup.com/Shrewsbury-Little-League-Online-Registration.start

This is a different system than the active.com method used in years past, and the League is now in it’s second year with the “Sports Signup” company.  It seems to be a much smoother and easier system.

Two things that are really in need this year in particular are people will to Coach, and companies willing to sponsor a team.  The cost of actually running a team and a league are much higher than people think, and it’s the sponsors that make that all possible.  If you are willing to be a sponsor, please contact the board at info@shrewsburylittleleague.com

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Beyond 2D, Reviews, Slider, Sports — By Jeffrey L. Wilson on August 4, 2010 at 2:05 am

I’ll fill you in on a rather dark little secret that only three other human beings are fortunate enough to be privy: I love the Little League World Series. The international teams of mini-athletes pure every bit of their hearts and souls into every at bat, pitch, grounder, and catch, so when they lose a big game and break down into inevitable tears, it’s all the more hilarious. There is (was?) a reason why I kept this a secret.

So when Activision announced that it planned to bring the magic of the Little League World Series to home consoles I was all over it. I watched every trailer, viewed every screenshot, and poured over press releases. You see, outside of sullied children, I also love arcade-style sports games. Little League World Series Baseball 2010, available for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, plays very much like an updated, albeit slightly toned down, version of Baseball Simulator 1.000; there are powerups, stats to track, and a very solid baseball engine as its base. Little League World Series Baseball 2010 may not appeal to the hardened sports fan who want to simulate big league action, but if you like your sports games with cheery attitude, loads of charm, and lots of cute fun, Activision’s title fits the bill.

Developed by Japanese programming house NOW Production, Little League World Series Baseball 2010 is a lighthearted, family friendly game–as it should be. This is instantly noticeable when the attract mode kicks in, and you see anime-style children performing all manner of throws, catches, and swings. Pressing start takes you to the main menu where you can play in exhibition, tournament, skill challenge, and clubhouses. The first three are pretty self-explanatory, but the last is the area where you can edit your team (everything from uniform colors, to equipment, to gender and body type). With some patience and imagination you can create an entire team of personalized players that are great at pitching, fielding, batting, or a bit of all three.

Before playing an actual game, you have the opportunity to select Talent Cards, power boosts that can give your team an advantage in certain scenarios. For example, selecting the Line Drive card adds more top spin to a batted ball–whats cool is that the boost lasts throughout the entirety of an at bat, so you won’t blow it if you happen to hit a foul ball into the stands. When I applied the Line Drive card to the my creatively named edit “Jeff Wilson” his bat turned super saiyan–it became gold and every time he made contact it was a bullet. These talent cards are plucked from virtual binder where they’re housed in protective plastic sheets–simply too awesome. It’s this time of attention and care given to the baseball fan that makes this game such a winner.

Little League World Series Baseball 2010 has an intuitive, easily accessible control scheme. When pitching, the face buttons each represent a pitch type, which you execute by holding R Trigger; the same button swings the bat when you’re on offense. The longer you hold the button, the more powerful your pitches and swings become. Fielding is remarkably easy–the CPU places your defensemen in the perfect position to catch balls, so much so that you don’t have to do much in order to make the play. Some may lament the lack of defensive challenge, but considering the gameplay style, I thought it fitting.  I didn’t like that I couldn’t more the pitcher or the mound or the batter in the box, but you can use the analog sticks to move the ball or alter your swing to hit the ball on the ground or in the air.

Spectacular plays are don’t go unrecognized in Little League Baseball World Series 2010. Whether it’s an impressive strike out, deep homer, or cool catch, you get a replay of the action from a TV-style angle that acts as a nice highlight to the in-game shenanigans. A cartoony version of Brent Musberger  makes the calls, which makes for some repetitive commentary (I had heard one particular phrase half a dozen times after one game) as he’s the only game voice.

Talent Cards aren’t the only manner by which you can power up players. Everytime that you successful accomplish a task (throw a strike as a pitcher, take a ball as a batter, make plays) you earn points that fill a meter at the bottom of the screen. Think of it as a fighting game’s super meter with three levels. Each level lets you whip out a more powerful move, perfectly fitting the arcade aesthetic.

Little League World Series Baseball 2010 does so  much right that it makes the flaws either a) stand out more or b) irrelevant, depending on your point of view. The camera angles can get a bit wonky when fielding flies, but the on-the-ball defense pretty much takes the fear out of a missed play. There’s no online play, but there are leaderboards for the included mini-games. Sobbing children also aren’t included.

These minor quibbles shouldn’t stop  you from giving this game a hearty go. It’s truly a fun, endearing title that should appeal to baseball fans of all ages or anyone keen on Japan’s unique spin on an American classic.

Thank you for supporting 2D-X, the very best in 2D (and 3D!) video games. If you’d like to help us grow, please take a second to download the free Alexa toolbar for IE or Firefox and continue surfing 2D-X (and the Web) as you normally would. Think of it has the Nielsen ratings of websites–by simply reading with the Alexa toolbar installed, you’ll boost our popularity. You can also support the site by copping some cool 2D-X gear. We appreciate it.

Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey L. Wilson’s love of all things shiny/digital has lead to jobs penning gadget- and video game-related nerd-copy for E-Gear, Laptop, LifeStyler, Parenting, PC Magazine, Sync, Wise Bread, and WWE. Besides overseeing the editorial content at 2D-X.com, he hosts New York City’s monthly Bits and Bytes video game media and public relations meetup. You can find him at a bar sampling foreign beers, or on Twitter doing twittery things.

More 2D-X News, Features, and Reviews: Review: NBA Unrivaled (XBLA)Review: Samurai Shodown Sen (Xbox 360)E3 2010: Luca Libre AAA: Heroes del RingTags: activision, little league world series basebal 2010, now production, review, sports game, xbox 360

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