Hats Off to the Underdogs

Did you see the Little League World Series Championship game today? All of it?

It was a great game and a team from Georgia again takes the title, as the Southeast (Warner Robins American LL) defeated Japan (Tokyo Kitasuna LL) 3-2 in eight innings.

What a treat for us, as our local Oregon District 4 winner, Lake Oswego LL advances through the Northwestern Regional, goes 2-1 in Pool Play, and makes it to the United States Semifinal before losing to Southwest (Lubbock Western LL, Texas).

Then, this weekend of games, as Georgia upsets Southwest (who seem destined for the title with their romp through Pool Play and strong pitching) in the US Championship and Japan comes back in the bottom of the 7th inning to defeat Curaçao in the International Championship!

Following today's world championship game and dramatic walk-off homerun by Dalton Carriker, the amazing Georgians set aside their victory celebration to approach the mound and comfort the sobbing Japanese team. My eyes started welling up!

Congrats to all the teams who made it to the Little League World Series, and to those teams who didn't quite make it, and to those who youngsters watching on TV who decide to join, or continue on, a baseball or softball team. You are all the lucky ones!