Imagine what it must feel like if you are a parent or a grandparent and you're packing up the family jalopy and heading out today to watch your child participate in the Williamsport Little League World Series.
Sixteen teams will converge on South Williamsport, Pa., August 21-30 for the 2009 LL World Series, including a team from Chula Vista,Calif., winner of its game in San Bernadino last night over a team from Granite Bay, Calif. The score was 11-4 in favor of the southern California team. It was a real pressure-cooker of a game, held in front of (can you believe it) 13,000 fans.
Back in 1973, the family of Ed Vosberg made the trek to Williamsport to watch the Tucson native and former major league pitcher compete in the series as an 11-year-old. Vosberg was the first player to compete in not only the Little League World Series, but the College World Series and in "The Show"...the Major League World Series as well.
The Tucson Cactus Little League team knocked off Colonie, New York, 4-0, in the quarterfinals and then jumped all over Birmingham, Michigan, 8-1, in the semis behind a one-hitter from Vosberg.
Tainin City, Taiwan ended the Tucson team's spectacular run with a 12-0 win in the championship game.
Howard J. Lamade Stadium will be rocking later this week and the television crews and sports reporters will be all over the place, covering the 63rd Little League World Series. I was trying to recall my Little League days...it was back in the mid 1950s and I remember my uniform was a bit big as I picked up my bat and glove and headed for Randolph Park to play in a game,which would decide who would move on to regional competition. We lost. I'm not sure if there were 13,000 people in Tucson at the time. But the parents and the grandparents were there, cheering us on.
Good luck to all the teams in Williamsport.
No comments:
Post a Comment