LLWS Thread

[Tom McAndrew]

The annual Little League World Series is underway in Williamsport.

Please use this thread to discuss any and all games during the LLWS.

I watched a number of the regional games. I didn't watch enough of the regionals to know which teams are the top American teams, but Hawaii was really impressive.

Best of luck to all the teams, and best of luck to the Hollidaysburg team from Hollidaysburg, PA, which is representing the Mid-Atlantic regional.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Hawaii defeats Washington, 11-1, in 5 innings. Anything can happen, but they look like a team that should make it to the United States final.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Tom, did you see the end of the Oregon - Washington regional game.

What an incredibly unbelievable pathetic decision.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Tom, did you see the end of the Oregon - Washington regional game.

What an incredibly unbelievable pathetic decision.

I did. That was embarrassing. On reviews, and on challenges to Williamsport, there are protocols for pretty much every situation you could imagine. That said, I do wonder if there was an established protocol for the mess created by the 3rd base umpire. And for that type of screw-up to take place in the regional final just makes it worse. I think somebody posted video of the play in the Lions Den -- I'll try to look for it.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I think somebody posted video of the play in the Lions Den -- I'll try to look for it.

Below is a tweet which contains the video. This is from the Northwest Regional championship game -- not the LLWS.

 

[JakkL]

I always thought and continue to believe that in this situation the ball is dead if any one umpire calls it that way. If there are fair and foul calls you have to go by the foul call because of this exact situation. You can't put the genie back in the bottle. The outfielder is going to hear and see the 3rd base ump not the home plate umpire.

 

[Relayer]

Have to like the Anderson kid from Hollidaysburg whose favorite band is AC/DC.

PA is up 2-0 over Texas after one.

 

[Relayer]

Anyone see the play at the plate? The PA kid did an amazing job of avoiding several tags, touched the plate safely, but ump calls him out for being out of the baseline. I didn't think there were baselines at home plate. Help please.

 

[Relayer]

An edit for the score.

I guess it won't matter much now. Texas blows the game open in the 5th, 8-2

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I guess it won't matter much now. Texas blows the game open in the 5th, 8-2

ugh, but thanks for the update. I had something to attend to which caused me to depart from my couch when Hollidaysburg was up 2-0, and just now got back.

Hopefully, Hollidaysburg can do well in the loser's bracket.

 

[Hartzie]

The annual Little League World Series is underway in Williamsport.

Please use this thread to discuss any and all games during the LLWS.

I watched a number of the regional games. I didn't watch enough of the regionals to know which teams are the top American teams, but Hawaii was really impressive.

Best of luck to all the teams, and best of luck to the Hollidaysburg team from Hollidaysburg, PA, which is representing the Mid-Atlantic regional.

Balls past the bag are the 3rd base umpires call. The ball should have been ruled a foul ball however he should have been more vocal and stuck with the call.

 

[CF Lion]

Williamsport....home of New Trail Brewing Company and Broken Heels IPA.

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Williamsport…..where my parents first met in high school!

My grandparents lived on Park Ave down the block from the bowling alley. As a kid 5-6 years old I used to walk with my grandfather the 5-6 blocks or so up to Bowman Field to watch the Phillies’ farm team play.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I only watched portions of games on Friday.

Tennessee (Southeast) defeated Utah (Mountain), 11-2. Tennessee played well, but Utah made all kinds of mistakes in the field, so it's tough to tell how good Tennessee is.

Hawaii (West) continues to dominate, as they defeated New York (Metro), 12-0. Hawaii pitched a combined no-hitter.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Iowa (Midwest) hangs on to defeat Washington (Northwest), 6-3, in the loser's bracket.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic) defeated Massachusetts (New England), 7-5. It was a crazy game. PA didn't score until the 4th inning. They were up 4-1 after 4 innings. MA scored 2 in the top of the 5th, but PA answered with 3 in the bottom of the inning to go up 7-3. MA didn't not go down quietly. They scored 2 in the top of the 6th, and had runners on base when the game ended with a tapper back to the PA pitcher, which he fielded and threw to 1st.

There's not a lot of rest in the loser's bracket. Pennsylvania has to play New York (Metro) on Sunday, with the winner advancing and the loser being out of the LLWS.

 

[Fortheglory612]

Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic) defeated Massachusetts (New England), 7-5. It was a crazy game. PA didn't score until the 4th inning. They were up 4-1 after 4 innings. MA scored 2 in the top of the 5th, but PA answered with 3 in the bottom of the inning to go up 7-3. MA didn't not go down quietly. They scored 2 in the top of the 6th, and had runners on base when the game ended with a tapper back to the PA pitcher, which he fielded and threw to 1st.

There's not a lot of rest in the loser's bracket. Pennsylvania has to play New York (Metro) on Sunday, with the winner advancing and the loser being out of the LLWS.

Game will be rescheduled due to weather for tmw at 11 am

 

[Moogy]

Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic) defeated Massachusetts (New England), 7-5. It was a crazy game. PA didn't score until the 4th inning. They were up 4-1 after 4 innings. MA scored 2 in the top of the 5th, but PA answered with 3 in the bottom of the inning to go up 7-3. MA didn't not go down quietly. They scored 2 in the top of the 6th, and had runners on base when the game ended with a tapper back to the PA pitcher, which he fielded and threw to 1st.

There's not a lot of rest in the loser's bracket. Pennsylvania has to play New York (Metro) on Sunday, with the winner advancing and the loser being out of the LLWS.

The team representing MA is a fairly local squad - 3 of the kids on it, including the kid who was the SP last night,, were teammates of my younger son on a travel team a couple years back. They weren't the most friendly kids, so I watched with interest, but didn't root for them. My son just said "good" when they lost. But one of them has a hot white trash mom - at tryouts she was wearing a tank-top wife-beater and daisy dukes, with a nose ring and a tat going up the side of her leg.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

But one of them has a hot white trash mom - at tryouts she was wearing a tank-top wife-beater and daisy dukes, with a nose ring and a tat going up the side of her leg.

15 yard PF on @Moogy for a violation of board rules. A statement like you made requires a picture of the "hot white trash mom."

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Game will be rescheduled due to weather for tmw at 11 am

The Hollidaysburg team (PA, Mid-Atlantic) weathered a rain delay in the middle of the game and powered past New York (Metro), 7-1. They'll play tomorrow against the loser of a game later today between Indiana & Tennessee.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Tennessee (Southeast) and Indiana (Great Lakes), in the winners bracket, are having a great game. Tennessee took a 2-1 lead in the top of the 5th. Indiana loaded the bases with no out in the bottom of the 6th, plated 1 with a single, but could't get the walk off run home. 2-2, and in to extra innings.

 

[JakkL]

I'm impressed by Holidaysburgs hitting. They are good aggressive hitters from top to bottom of the line up. They only have 1 real power hitter in Link tho. They are lacking in power pitching tho. Most of these teams have a couple of tall fireballers. Their coach does a great job of managing his pitchers to keep them available on 0 or 1 day rest, which is super important in the losers bracket.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Tennessee with some good swings, and Indiana with some poor defense, enables Tennessee to plate 3 in the top of the 7th. They retired Indiana in order in the bottom of the 7th, so Tennessee advances in the winner's bracket.

 

[Fortheglory612]

Tennessee with some good swings, and Indiana with some poor defense, enables Tennessee to plate 3 in the top of the 7th. They retired Indiana in order in the bottom of the 7th, so Tennessee advances in the winner's bracket.

How do you think they match up with PA?

 

[Tom McAndrew]

How do you think they match up with PA?

tough to say. I've only seen a couple of innings of IN (and they've only played 2 games). In their 1st game, they jumped out to a big lead (scored 7 runs in the first 2 innings), got tied, but scored a run in the bottom of the 6th to advance. Their D was shaky in that game (they had 3 errors).

I thought they played well (not great) in today's game against TN, except for their D in the top of the 7th.

I'd have to dig too much to figure how many pitchers they used today are out for tomorrow's game, and where those pitchers are in IN's pecking order. Similarly, I'm not sure how many of PA's pitchers are out for tomorrow's game. And since pitching is so important in LL (and baseball in general), it's tough to analyze the matchup without knowing that info.

PA's bats have impressed me, and I think they would rate an advantage in that department.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Tonight's winner's bracket game between Hawaii (West) and Texas (Southwest) could be an interesting one. Hawaii has absolutely dominated their opponents so far. And Texas is traditionally one of the stronger USA teams.

 

[BW Lion]

The team representing MA is a fairly local squad - 3 of the kids on it, including the kid who was the SP last night,, were teammates of my younger son on a travel team a couple years back. They weren't the most friendly kids, so I watched with interest, but didn't root for them. My son just said "good" when they lost.

It’s interesting to learn that you have successfully passed along to your son(s) the less-than-esteeming ability to not only mock, but hope for the failure of, individuals better than you and offspring.

Very small of you as a parent, but about what I would expect.

 

[Ludd]

tough to say. I've only seen a couple of innings of IN (and they've only played 2 games). In their 1st game, they jumped out to a big lead (scored 7 runs in the first 2 innings), got tied, but scored a run in the bottom of the 6th to advance. Their D was shaky in that game (they had 3 errors).

I thought they played well (not great) in today's game against TN, except for their D in the top of the 7th.

I'd have to dig too much to figure how many pitchers they used today are out for tomorrow's game, and where those pitchers are in IN's pecking order. Similarly, I'm not sure how many of PA's pitchers are out for tomorrow's game. And since pitching is so important in LL (and baseball in general), it's tough to analyze the matchup without knowing that info.

PA's bats have impressed me, and I think they would rate an advantage in that department.

Indiana has one stud pitcher and he used up all his pitches. He had 11 strikeouts and gave up one run before he came out. Without him, they’re a pretty average team. They have three good hitters and the rest of the lineup is weak. I look for PA to win pretty handily.

 

[Ludd]

Tonight's winner's bracket game between Hawaii (West) and Texas (Southwest) could be an interesting one. Hawaii has absolutely dominated their opponents so far. And Texas is traditionally one of the stronger USA teams.

It looks like everyone else is playing for second place compared to Hawaii.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

It looks like everyone else is playing for second place compared to Hawaii.

it sure does seem that way, based on their 1st two games. Only time will tell if that holds true through the rest of their games.

 

[BW Lion]

Is that “Pat” behind home plate complete with the highly inconsistent strike zone?

 

[Ludd]

I still don’t understand how a team that’s 1-0 (Texas) can be in the same position in the tournament as a team that’s 2-0 (Hawaii). Either have a true double elimination tournament or a true pool play tournament.

 

[Anon1661218762]

Is that “Pat” behind home plate complete with the highly inconsistent strike zone?

Look where she sets up. She's right behind the right handed batters. No wonder her calls are off.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I still don’t understand how a team that’s 1-0 (Texas) can be in the same position in the tournament as a team that’s 2-0 (Hawaii). Either have a true double elimination tournament or a true pool play tournament.

Well, there are 10 US regions, and 10 International regions.

I'll just stick with the US, but the same thing holds true for the International competition.

In R1, those 10 teams are involved in 5 games. Teams that win in R1 stay in the winner's bracket, and teams that lose go to the loser's bracket. After R1, there are 5 teams in the winner's bracket. There's no way to configure things from that point so that every team in the winner's bracket plays the same number of games.

It used to simpler when there were 8 regions.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

Hawaii (West) defeats Texas (Southwest), 6-0. I believe Texas only had one hit in the game. In short, Hawaii continues to dominate. Texas will play Tennessee on Wednesday (8/24), with the winner of that advancing to the United States final on Saturday (8/27).

Along the lines of what @Ludd posted before the start of the Hawaii - Texas game, it's hard to project Hawaii losing to any of the USA teams. Should they win the United States final on 8/27, they'll advance to the LLBWS final on 8/28 against the winner of the International final (which also takes place on 8/27).

 

[Moogy]

It’s interesting to learn that you have successfully passed along to your son(s) the less-than-esteeming ability to not only mock, but hope for the failure of, individuals better than you and offspring.

Very small of you as a parent, but about what I would expect.

Oh goody ... we're once again treated to a failed attempt by BW Lion to insult/belittle others. Hey, if you want to stick up for wannabe bullies, who lose in the end, that tracks. Meanwhile, we've moved on to a better organization - nicer kids, better training, better baseball. Sounds like you have some deep-seated stuff to work out. Just stop trying to do it on this board.

 

[JakkL]

Anyone see the play at the plate? The PA kid did an amazing job of avoiding several tags, touched the plate safely, but ump calls him out for being out of the baseline. I didn't think there were baselines at home plate. Help please.

Correct call. He was fine with the initial slide, but when he got up he darted outside the left hand batters box to avoid the tag. If he was able to get up and go back to the plate in a way that didn't take him so far away he would've been safe.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

I missed the 1st 3 innings of Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic) vs. Indiana (Great Lakes).

It's 7-0, PA in the bottom of the 4th, with PA still at bat.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

And PA hits a double with the bases loaded (right fielder playing short to prevent a hit), scoring all three base runners. So PA advances, winning 10-0 in 4 innings

They had 9 hits and 0 errors, while Indiana had 3 hits and committed 3 errors.

Since their earlier loss in their 1st game, PA has been on a tear. They haven't dominated like Hawaii, but at this point they appear to be one of the better USA teams.

They'll play next on Wednesday against the winner of the Texas - Iowa game. PA would probably like another game with Texas, as they lost to them in their 1st game.