A grand opportunity to witness an event that still sets a tone to promote positive Americana during times of divisiveness and rupture in American society played out in Williamsport, Pennsylvania over the past two weeks. It’s called the Little League World Series, and it is truly an international, world project. The 2022 championship series celebrated the LLWS’s 75th anniversary with 20 teams representing 6,500 Little Leagues from around the globe gathered to display their exceptional baseball skills.
The final championship game of this gigantic and uplifting sporting achievement was scheduled for Sunday, August 28 at 3:00 p.m., featuring International Champion Willemstad, Curacao versus Honolulu, Hawaii. Curacao eliminated Taipei, Taiwan, 1-0, on Saturday, August 27, in the bracket’s semi-final, while Hawaii defeated Nolansville, Tennessee, 5-1, in the United States semi-final bracket at Howard J. Lamade Stadium.
NO LOSERS —
In reality, there are no ‘losers’ in this vast experience of six-inning, double-elimination games. The Little League World Series is truly a world event because it crowns an international champion and an United States champion. The two winners pair off in the final overall championship game.
Participants include not only the players and coaches, but baseball fans and families, and the countless volunteers that put together this championship feast. Every single participant in this mammoth production is a champion because of his contribution and commitment to baseball, once referred to as ‘America’s sport.’
Baseball was born in the United States and its popularity endured for decades as America’s favorite sport. The American-born game remains a favorite sport of many fans, myself included.
BASEBALL POPULARITY —
In my personal experience, baseball bloomed for me in Northwest Ohio when I was a kid growing up once upon a time in the rural farmlands of America. In the 1950s, baseball was the nation’s most favored sport. At the turn of the 20th Century, Standardbred (harness) racing still held that honor, but the diamond game eventually grew into its potential, and Ty Cobb and company eclipsed the popularity title from the likes of Dan Patch and other harness racing greats.
Thoroughbred (jockey) racing (dubbed the Sport of Kings) came along quickly to bounce harness racing’s most popular stars. Jockey racing produced the great Man o’ War (circa 1920s) and the The Triple Crown races — Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes — were claimed as the ultimate group race test for three-year-old Thoroughbreds. All three races were won in 1937 by War Admiral, Man o’ War’s most talented son. War Admiral was the fourth Thoroughbred to achieve victory in all three Triple Crown races, a feat that grew the horse racing sport tremendously.
Like baseball, Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing remain major players today in the United States and in world sport, and they all employ thousands of persons.
Baseball, though, kept steadily producing its own tremendous stars, emerging to become king of sports in America with home run hitter Babe Ruth, batting champion Ted Williams, and the superlative Willie Mays thrilling fans in the 1940s and 1950s. The sport reigned supreme before it eventually took a back seat to professional football, and then lost another step to the colorful characters of professional basketball.
However, it is Little League and its World Series event that keeps the word ‘pure’ separate unto itself in the complicated global competition called sport. Volunteerism, a non-monetary sporting spirit, respect for others (including umpires) and the joy of playing sports are integral to keeping alive the lessons of these amateur games played by ten- to twelve-year-olds who make memories of a lifetime for themselves and for those who follow their exemplary example.
PERSONAL BASEBALL —
Still, today, at age 76, I enjoy the excitement of the grand slam, the subtlety of hitting and running strategies, and the build up to the final inning between pitcher and batter in a tightly played contest more than any other action in any other sport. Maybe that is because baseball was my first awakening to what I consider an unstoppable, competitive gift to the world — sport itself.
I learned about baseball at my father’s side as we tuned in the radio to follow the unseen action on the diamonds at Cleveland and Detroit. Later, I was cheery beyond words when television planted the games right in front of my living room chair.
My love of baseball came to full fruition when Dad took our family to Detroit to watch the Tigers battle the Cleveland Indians. That was heart-stopping, personal joy for me. Baseball still has ‘it’ for as far as I can see.
And from the looks of the little guys and gals who play Little League baseball, I’d say ‘it’ is in place for them, as well.
NAMES of THE GAME —
Watching the Little League World Series gives a glimpse into discovering the next crop of players who will become Major League Baseball’s future. These youngsters are well-coached, polished, enthusiastic competitors on their first big stage. The first LLWS was played in 1947 in front of 2,500 fans, and the game has grown wings in its productive capacity since then.
Little League teams compete in local tournaments, district all-star games, move on to sectional competitions, and then to county/and or state, and regional tournaments to earn the right to land in Williamsport for the big show.
Here are some great first names from this year’s player and coaching rosters:
- – Aspen, Ayden, Austin, Alden
- – Brex, Braydon, Blake, Bentley
- – Caz, Chaz, Carter, Clark, Cooper
- – Daly, Dwight, D’Shawn, Dash
- – Ezra, Esaiah, Easton
- – Falynn, Fletcher, Fisher
- – Grayson, Greyson, Graham
- – Jaron, Jace, Jayden, Jaykob, Jonnovyn, Jacolby, Jaythan, Jay-Dylnn, Jaydion, Davey-Jay, Jaylliard, Josiah
- – Khyden, Kaden, Kaiden, Kyshore
- – Linc, Lane, Landon
- – Mason, Mattia, Malachi, Marlon, Mikah
- – Nash, Nestor
- – Owen, Omar
- – Pablo, Parker, Preston
- – Quinn, Qshondrickson
- – Ruston, Reece, Reangelo
- – Simone, Stryker, Shemar
- – Tirrell, Trent
- – Uriah
- – Wright
- – Xavier
- – Zachery, Zaino
The participating town names also included ports, lands, villes, and burgs — Nolansville, Tennessee; Hagerstown, Indiana; Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania; Pearland, Texas — that came to Williamsport, PA to play for fun and healthy competition.
FLAVOR and DREAMS —
Flavor to the proceedings each year recently has been added by the energy of interviewer Julie Foudy. She catches the emotion, the fun, and the unending back stories to the game from fans, parents, and coaches and players alike.
Every Little League team in the world becomes part of the dream of Charles E. Stotz, Little League founder. Charles E. Stotz Field in Williamsport marks the location where it all began for youngsters to ‘just play’ the game of baseball.
Hawaii won the 2022 overall championship, dispatching Curacao, 13-3, in four innings via the 10-run lead rule. Team-spirited Tennessee captured the Sportsmanship Award. Their ‘joy of game’ was obvious throughout the tournament.
Congratulations to all and everyone who played, helped the teams get there, coached, cheered, commentated, and volunteered to win the days!
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Credit:
Top photo from the personal and copyrighted collection of Barbara Anne Helberg
Photo of harness racer Dan Patch courtesy of http://www.wikipedia.org
More blogs from this author:
My Writing Life Xposed
Senior XWhyZees
Champions In Sport 