LLSBWS: Down to Two

Congratulations to the winners of yesterday's semi-final games in the 2006 Little League Softball World Series. The championship game will be tonight, 6:30 (Pacific time), broadcast live on ESPN2, featuring two teams who are undefeated in the tournament and both wearing shades of green:

East (Pequannock LL, New Jersey) vs. Central (Mattawan LL, Michigan)

It was great to see Alpenrose packed last night by the second game (as more and more people were getting off work and heading to the ballpark) with an enthusiastic and appreciative crowd. I eyed sweatshirts and t-shirts from Portland-area Little League programs, ASA Softball programs, and even the Oregon high school state champs, Jesuit Crusaders! It was great to see support for girls' softball.

In the first game, East pitcher Dana Nielsen threw a 4-hitter and added an RBI to help her team beat South (Morristown LL, Tennessee) 5-1.

In the second semi-final game, Central pitcher Lauren Gevaart scored one of two runs for her team as she also threw a four-hitter to outlast Southwest (Elgin LL, Texas) 2-0.

It's a little cloudy in the Portland area right now, but hopefully it will clear by gametime. As the Alpenrose complex prepares to host its last games, it will be the final time to crank out ice cream cones and trade pins. If you are free tonight, drive over to Shattuck Road and bring the kids and some change for sno-cones. You'll get to watch some great softball and feel the excitement of a championship game, catch a glimpse (and probably an autograph) of two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michele Smith, wander around and get a taste of what it takes to telecast a live ESPN event, and parking/admission are free.