2007 Little League World Series Coverage

Follow us on The Road to Williamsport. Get on the scene coverage of the 2007 Little League Regional Tournaments and World Series. We'll have updates and video all month. Check out our new location: Little League World Series 2007

The Wonderful World of Sod

Thought you knew everything there is about sod...think again! Here we bring you underneath Volunteer Stadium at the Little League World Series to where fresh sod is grown year-round to keep the field looking great--and make umpires like Tom McGorty fall over.

Inside the ESPN Little League World Series Sound Truck

 

Always wanted to see just what it takes to produce sound for an ESPN broadcast? Join Michael as he talks to Paul Krugman, ESPN sound engineer, as he gives us a tour of this fascinating place where 100 different audio signals come in at once--even those controversial ones captured by dugout microphones.

MLB Closer Latroy Hawkins

Latroy Hawkins is a relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. While serving as a closer for the Minnesota Twins he struck up a friendship with Twin outfielder Torii Hunter who introduced to Latroy to the Little League Urban Initiative—a program that helps introduce baseball to inner-city communities through field renovations, clinics, and the formation of player leagues. We spoke to Latroy to get his thoughts on Little League Baseball and why it’s so important to reinvigorate the inner-city with the influence of baseball.

So, Latroy, you’ve been walking around the complex here for a couple of hours. Pretty awesome place for a 12-year old, huh? For a 12 year- old? I’m 33 and it’s like baseball heaven to me. When Torii and I drove up we were in awe of the complex. To meet the kids playing here it was a dream come true and I’m not even playing.

Did you watch the Little League World Series as a kid? Oh yeah I’ve been wanting to come here since I was a kid. And lo and behold I’m 33 and I finally get to come here.

As a pitcher yourself—what do you think of the pitching here at the Little League World Series? I think the pitching is exceptional. Just watching the kids throw with velocity and they all have breaking pitches and they can spot it. To have great control and at a young age--that’s something I didn’t have at that age. I mean, I threw hard. But these kids now have the whole package.

Do you think they should be throwing breaking balls at that age? That’s a good question. Everyone has an opinion. A lot of these kids are more mature than other kids so I don’t think it’d be a problem for the bigger, stronger kids. Maybe for some others. But for most of them I don’t think it’s a problem.

What brought you to the Urban Initiative Program? Torii and I used to stand around the batting cages before games when we were on the Twins and we’d say, “Where’d all the African-American players go?” We’ve lost a whole generation of African American athletes in baseball. We’ve got to make sure we don’t lose the next one. That’s why I got involved.

Why do you think baseball’s popularity has waned in the inner-city? Baseball doesn’t have the appeal that other sports have. I was talking to ‘Outside the Lines’ just the other day. About how baseball doesn’t have a clock. Baseball is built on drama. Kids aren’t into drama—they’re into action. They want things to happen fast. But baseball as a sport isn’t built that way.

How do you counter that? I think we have to find a way to handle both. Use marketing strategies the way the NFL and the NBA does. It starts early. Baseball isn’t a sport you can pick up once you’re 13 or 14 years old--unless you’re extremely talented. It has to start real young—with T-ball even.

You got to meet some of the Urban Initiative teams today. I assume they were pretty excited to be here. This is like making it to the Major Leagues for these kids. They love it. We just have to bring the kids back to baseball, and find a better way to sell our game to kids.

The Coolest Little League Coach!

Most people spend their whole life trying to be cool. Now one coach has had his coolness officially recognized by Little League Baseball.

Michael Flynn of Dublin, CA was recognized today at the Little League World Series as the “Coolest Coach of the Year”—an annual event sponsored by Bryant Cooling and Heating System to honor Little League coaches who exemplify "Courage, Character and Loyalty" in a fresh and compelling way.

Last year his Little League team struggled in the face of difficult Northern California weather which disrupted team practices and affected team morale. Realizing something had to change Michael turned to that tried and true baseball salvation—Rock n’ Roll.

“At some point I said, 'Stop! We need to have some fun,’ says Michael about the ‘Rock N’ Roll Friday Nights’ he instituted into the team’s weekly routine. “I brought out my stereo with the big speakers, and the kids brought their ipods. We’d order pizza and eat right on the field--they wouldn’t realize they were even practicing.”

Even more touching is the fact that Michael was nominated by one of his players—his son Ryan who saw an email from Little League International detailing the 'Coolest Coach' promotion.

“Just seeing that thing I knew my Dad win,” says a proud Ryan Flynn. “After all the cool stuff he did for our team and all we’ve gone through….”

Ryan’s voice falters slightly when talking about his mother, Leslye, and the breast cancer diagnosis she received in the middle of the baseball season. The news shattered the close- knit family and the resulting chemotherapy sessions made it, as Michael puts it, difficult to “get her out of the house.” The one thing that helped....Little League Baseball.

“Going to practice gave me an hour a day where things weren’t revolving around cancer and surgeries and appointments,” says Leslye. “It was such a wonderful focus. Who knew what baseball could do?”

Now the same family who used to watch the Little League World Series on television and wonder 'Wouldn’t it be something to actually be there?' have finally gotten their chance to come to Williamsport and experience 'Baseball Mecca.'

“For us to be here and know what we went through is just so…. overwhelming.” says Leslye. “There’s just no other word for it.”

Michael remains humble about the award. “There are a million other coaches out there who are better than I am.” But then the cool ones are always are.

Autographed Photo Winners

And the winners are...

Adam Lobe, Ramona, CA (Derek Jeter)
Luke Dufva, Poway, CA (Tony Gwynn)
Chaz Markley, Nuevo, CA (Ken Griffy)

(All from California... interesting. We did not know locations when winners were randomly selected.)

Congratulations!

Luke's mom commented, "We received the picture and it is awesome! Luke absolutely loves it and it will hang in his bedroom very soon. He realizes that he is a very lucky kid! We took a picture of him opening it and we will try to e-mail it to you this weekend."

Very cool.

2006 World Series Memories

Yes, the 2006 Little League World Series is over - but, through the wonder of technology and the Internet, we are able to share some of the experience with you. I hope you enjoy looking back as much as I do.  

Autographed photo winners coming soon

The winners of the Derek Jeter, Ken Griffy and Tony Gwynn autographed photos will be announced next week. Winners will be selected at random from our LLWS newsletter subscription list. Stay tuned (and have a great weekend)!

What a Game!

Columbus Northern LL, Columbus, Georgia from the Southeast Region and Kawaguchi LL, Kawaguchi City, Japan from the Asia Region both played an excellent game.   Each team represented their country and league with class.   Below are some photos from the Championship Game (click on photo):

   

Both teams are Champions!

Photos are from:
Tim Shaffer/Reuters
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
AP Photo/John Amis
AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar

Pin Trading??

The Little League World Series has just ended and everyone has headed home but it would appear that pin trading continues - that is if you can call if trading.

If you saw Michael Clarke's video segments on pin trading at the series know it's a favorite past-time there. Fans young and old (some like me, very old) sit for hours under at the pin trading tent, sitting under a tree, or standing in the concession stand line. Pin trading takes place just about everywhere. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised then to see items up for sale on ebay already either.

I did a search on ebay for "2006 Little League World Series" and came up with over 200 items for bid. As with the pin trading at the series, it would appear that the Honda pin is the hottest item being offered on ebay. That being said, if there are so many Honda pins available on ebay, is it really a collectible? Now, as a corporate sponsor of Little League like Honda, we  (Little League Network/Active.com) too had a pin (Little League Network) we were giving out. Heck, we even had temporary tattoos that looked like our pins and they were a huge hit!

So, I thought I'd look around on ebay to see if our pin was being offered just like Honda and of course I did. But, there were only two pins being offered and I even found one of the tattoos. I guess that goes to show you whose pin is more sought after - Honda, with lots of pins, or us with only two (plus a tattoo of course). In my mind, ours is the real collectible - Heck, I even have three Honda pins myself but I'll hold on to those until next year and see what I can "trade" them for -  I don't sell my pins, I trade them - After all, that is what pin trading is supposed to be about don't you think?

I do have a few of our pins still available along with some tattoos and I'm thinking of giving some away here through our special section. If you would like a pin and tattoo, write a comment on why you would like one and the best comments will be sent them in the mail. Of course, if you say you're just going to sell them on ebay, I think that will just about assure you of not winning. If you agree with me about trading and not selling, tell the world here and get your pin and tattoo!