Little League is hot right now.
I can never remember such attention being given to the sport that involves thousands of kids from all over the world.
Berlin can rightfully say that it shared in the launching of the sport into this nation’s radar screen this year.
And who could not say that the time was perfect.
On the legendary Sports Illustrated Magazine cover was for the first time a Little Leaguer. It was pitcher Mo’ne Davis, a young lady who personally grabbed attention while she was striking out player after player, all guys. Davis pitched for her Taney Dragons Philadelphia all-star team.
Then on the national scene was the Jackie Robinson West team from Chicago, advancing deep into the tournament before elimination came to Seoul, Korea.
The Mo’ne story and the Chicago story came at a time when the nation was watching the difficult situation in Ferguson, Mo. take center stage, with questions of race, policing and really the attitudes of many Americans. So while there were those who were excessive in their protest, there were others who shared a peaceful approach to conflict resolution. Meanwhile, Mo’ne who is an African-American as well as the entire Chicago team showed that hard work, demolishing stereotypes (I mean who is ever going to say `you throw like a girl’ ever again? Mo’ne showed she could throw anyway she wanted to) and good sportsmanship can and will win out.
As for Jackie Robinson West, there is a growing concern at the decline in numbers of African American Major League Baseball players. It reached a high of bout 19 percent of the league in 1982, but was down to just over 8 percent last April on opening day.
With the tension national tension high over the Ferguson, Mo. police shooting of Michael Brown, an African American teen, at least we were able to see our young people perhaps beating the odds on the baseball diamond.
Speaking of beating the odds, Berlin has a great deal to be proud of in both its Intermediate All-Star baseball team and its 9-10 team. The older team made it into the early Little League World Series rounds while the younger squad took the state championship.
On Oct.10, the teams as well as other Berlin Little Leaguers will be deservedly recognized at a Little League parade.
Some of us can remember Little League parades mostly happening on the opening day of a community’s season. I can remember myself dressed in my baseball uniform and walking with my team through the community the morning of our first game.
I was blessed enough to be a proud father years later watching my daughter and her team be part of a parade on their opening day.
Honoring Berlin’s baseball teams is absolutely the right gesture. Berlin has something going with its baseball squads in a good way. I don’t think this is the last we’ll be hearing of this league’s successes. With the thousands of baseball teams out there in this nation, that the Berlin Intermediate team worked to become of the world’s best, is really an amazing achievement.
Berlin’s Intermediate All Stars included:
Billy Wheatley
Colby Figgs
Hayden Cosman
Hayden Snelsire
Jack Rosenberg
Kevin Beck
Kevon Wharton
Matthew Kinsey
Ryan Duncan
Steve Bise
Tristan McDonough
Wes Powell III
Zach Pletcher
I can never remember such attention being given to the sport that involves thousands of kids from all over the world.
Berlin can rightfully say that it shared in the launching of the sport into this nation’s radar screen this year.
And who could not say that the time was perfect.
On the legendary Sports Illustrated Magazine cover was for the first time a Little Leaguer. It was pitcher Mo’ne Davis, a young lady who personally grabbed attention while she was striking out player after player, all guys. Davis pitched for her Taney Dragons Philadelphia all-star team.
Then on the national scene was the Jackie Robinson West team from Chicago, advancing deep into the tournament before elimination came to Seoul, Korea.
The Mo’ne story and the Chicago story came at a time when the nation was watching the difficult situation in Ferguson, Mo. take center stage, with questions of race, policing and really the attitudes of many Americans. So while there were those who were excessive in their protest, there were others who shared a peaceful approach to conflict resolution. Meanwhile, Mo’ne who is an African-American as well as the entire Chicago team showed that hard work, demolishing stereotypes (I mean who is ever going to say `you throw like a girl’ ever again? Mo’ne showed she could throw anyway she wanted to) and good sportsmanship can and will win out.
As for Jackie Robinson West, there is a growing concern at the decline in numbers of African American Major League Baseball players. It reached a high of bout 19 percent of the league in 1982, but was down to just over 8 percent last April on opening day.
With the tension national tension high over the Ferguson, Mo. police shooting of Michael Brown, an African American teen, at least we were able to see our young people perhaps beating the odds on the baseball diamond.
Speaking of beating the odds, Berlin has a great deal to be proud of in both its Intermediate All-Star baseball team and its 9-10 team. The older team made it into the early Little League World Series rounds while the younger squad took the state championship.
On Oct.10, the teams as well as other Berlin Little Leaguers will be deservedly recognized at a Little League parade.
Some of us can remember Little League parades mostly happening on the opening day of a community’s season. I can remember myself dressed in my baseball uniform and walking with my team through the community the morning of our first game.
I was blessed enough to be a proud father years later watching my daughter and her team be part of a parade on their opening day.
Honoring Berlin’s baseball teams is absolutely the right gesture. Berlin has something going with its baseball squads in a good way. I don’t think this is the last we’ll be hearing of this league’s successes. With the thousands of baseball teams out there in this nation, that the Berlin Intermediate team worked to become of the world’s best, is really an amazing achievement.
Berlin’s Intermediate All Stars included:
Billy Wheatley
Colby Figgs
Hayden Cosman
Hayden Snelsire
Jack Rosenberg
Kevin Beck
Kevon Wharton
Matthew Kinsey
Ryan Duncan
Steve Bise
Tristan McDonough
Wes Powell III
Zach Pletcher
The 9-10 All Stars:
Cole Lynch
Eric Berry
Ashten Snelsire
Brenner Gursky
Evan Truitt
Luke Scott
Luke Mergott
Logan Tapman
Calvin Lorance
Ryan McLaughlin
Emmanuel Aroh
Zach Powers
Kellen Catrino