Today in Bristol, Connecticut, I saw two fantastically played games in the New England regional. Andover National (Massachusetts) beat Yarmouth (Maine), 5-3. In the second game, Fairfield American (Connecticut) beat Cumberland American (Rhode Island), 3-0. That second game was a rematch of sorts, as Cumberland National, (the same league but different charter) lost 1-0 to Fairfield American in the regional final last season.
How important were these games? Ehhhh... I don't really know. Sure, it helped Connecticut get a better seed, and Maine and Rhode Island are battling for the fourth semifinal spot, but who cares once you're into the single elimination round? The CT-RI game was broadcast on NESN in the New England area, and luckily both teams at least started their aces. Most times, this late in pool play, NESN would've seen a #4 pitcher vs a #5 pitcher or something similar. The game itself was fantastic. Eddie Schwartz of Connecticut showed intensity on the mound, topped his fastball out at 71MPH, and struck out 5 batters in 1.2 innings. He came out at that point because CT wants to use him in the semifinals. He also happened to hit the farthest homerun I've ever seen a Little Leaguer hit. This was marked off at approximately 365-390 feet. It was incredible. The famous Sean Burroughs homerun in 1993 at Al Houghton Stadium in San Bernadino couldn't have been hit as far as this. Here's a link to the video. Skip to 1:13
Anyway, the game ended up being a great show of baseball talent and skill by both teams. It will mean nothing come Thursday when the semifinals arrive. To me, that's wrong. I think the old system back in the 70's, 80's, and early 90's is wrong too. Single elimination is one extreme, and pool play is the other. Pool play becomes single elimination as it is. Double elimination is the way it needs to be at every level in Little League, from districts, to sections, to states, to regionals, to the Little League World Series itself. It's the most fair, and the absolute best way to find the best teams.
Notes around the country:
Utah has qualified for the West Region semifinals for the first time since 2002. That's incredible for a state as small as Utah, especially within a region so typically tough. Ocean View is looking pretty unbeatable though. While they're not hitting homeruns at the clip of a Park View (Chula Vista), California from 2009, they're certainly pitching like the Philadelphia Phillies. Ocean View has given up 1 earned run in 18 innings at the West regional. They have 29 strikeouts as a staff. They've sent five different pitchers to the mound already.
There's something in the water at Warner Robins American Little League in Georgia. The WRALL all-stars have won the Georgia state title four out of five years now, and they're close to making their third trip to Williamsport. Obviously, they won the whole thing in 2007. This type of Little League dominance isn't good for the organization in my opinion, but hey whatever. The fact that the regional is in Warner Robins now is a little suspect as well. It's not secret that I'm rooting for New Tampa, Florida or Mobile West Side, Alabama.
The Great Lakes semifinals should be some of the most interesting games on television this week. Golfmoor, Indiana's Elijah Dunham finally made an out. He's only batting .778 now. He also has four homeruns, and 14 RBIs.He's the triple crown winner of the region. Let's not forget that he has two saves and 9 strikeouts on the mound in 5 innings pitched. Kentucky seems to have the most explosive offense, and Ohio is always waiting in the wings. Michigan will most likely be cannon fodder for Kentucky though.
In the Mid-Atlantic region, weather has become a serious factor. Last night's games were rained out. Pennsylvania and Maryland were tied 0-0 through two innings, and the New Jersey-Delaware game never got off the ground. Both will be played on Thursday now. A day that was originally considered an off day before the semifinals. Why is this important? For starters, New Jersey's ace pitcher, Hiro Mizutani was expected to make his regional debut against Delaware. New Jersey still needs at least a second win to clinch a playoff spot. Now, Mizutani will most likely face New York, and with a day closer to the playoff round, his pitches will be limited. To combat Mizutani, New York, which hoped to be clinched by now, needs a win as well to guarantee a spot in the semifinals. They will have to throw their ace, James "Jimbo" Greig. With the limited pitch counts, and only Delaware and Pennsylvania clinched in the semifinals, NY-NJ could potentially be a play-in game. Maryland-Pennsylvania's scoreless game will be resumed Thursday morning and could decide a lot.
10 comments:
well Warner robins doesn't no how much of an assholes they are
nice job with the blog john gathering all the info from the different regions in one place puts a face on some of what to expect in williamsport
Yeah, I prefer double elimination as well and I am looking forward to seeing how the format works out for the World Series. By the way, take it from someone that saw that HR Burroughs hit, there is no way it was farther. If you can't see where it lands and you lose sight of it while it is still rising, it is farther.
who's gunna be your new pick for the great lakes since the best team there golfmoor in got eliminated and you better not say Hamilton those kids are awfulmexcept for ther pithcer
It would be interesting to see them together. I've never been to San Bernadino so I can't compare the flight path.
It was something I will never ever forget.
There is video on youtube of it, but NESN never gets the ball on camera. They expected to see it land in the trees... It cleared them.
Here's the link. Skip to 1:13
http://youtu.be/6O9KQ4U__Hw
My pick was always North Oldham, Kentucky... Although after seeing the results, I agree that Indiana was the best team.
I hate that Ohio team, and I pray they don't win.
north oldham going to romp Ohio they crushed Ohio 14-7 in pool play off the who beat indina , if griffin mclarity and Trevor bates and the rest of the Kentucky lineup keep the way there hitting there gunna win and also kentucky has there ace on the moundmof griffin mclarty fornthe championship game
I have no issue with pool play at the district level. Teams are formed, practice a couple of weeks and then poof, a good many only play 2 games. Pool play at the district level usually gives everyone 4+ games. At that point, I would take the top whatever from each pool and let them have at it in double elimination. If you want to use pool play to seed the double elimination bracket, that's fine. If not all teams make the elimination bracket, I would even cross over the teams that don't make it and let them have one more game as well (sort of like the consolation games the Southeast region has). Give everyone a couple of weeks of games.
Above the district level, double elimination is fine and probably the best way to go, but, again, especially at the regional level, run some consolation games. Those teams travel a long way for 2 and out.
Yeah, I like the way California holds their tournaments. Districts are a mix of pool play or double elmination, but once you advance to sections and sub-divisioin everything is double elimination and then the two winners of the sub-division tournament plays a best of 3 series for the So Cal championship.
I agree that pool play is okay for seeding double-elimination at the district level. I actually don't mind Pool Play and then single elimination if a) only the pool winners and 1-loss teams advance, and everyone loses twice before they're eliminated (with pool losses coming over).
Florida does it great. 4 team pool for sectionals. Undefeated? You're the section champ. Period. Three teams tie at 2-1? Runs against seeds a team 1, 2 vs 3 in a playoff, 1 vs the winner of that game for championship.
It's pool play combined with double elimination while rewarding teams for actually winning pool games.
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