2008 Little League World Series: About the Kids

I guess I'm not the only fan:

"Meet South Dakota's Bill Hendricks"

I've been watching lots of 2008 Little League World Series on ESPN and ABC...the level of ball and size of kids is way beyond the scope of the average Little League games around here, but is Williamsport not kid-heaven?

Seriously, as many have said, the place is set up for families: free admission, free parking, lots of cheap junk food, crazy mascots, dancing umpires, a perfect cardboard-sliding hill, oh, and ESPN chicks and dudes hanging out, amping up the cool factor...

A Celebration of (youth) Baseball

Now that the Little League Softball World Series has wrapped-up here in Portland, my eyes are glued to the HD for the Olympics plus the LLWS, which started yesterday. By the way, congratulations to Simpsonville Little League, Simpsonville, South Carolina, the 2008 Champs!

Our local team, Murrayhill Little League, advanced through our Oregon District 4, the state championship, and then lost in the Regional championship to Mill Creek, Washington. This is the fourth year in a row that a team from our District has gone to the final Regional game.

I caught many of the Regional Championships on ESPN, but, as you know, I'm keeping my eye on the Midwest representative from South Dakota. Canyon Lake Little League of Rapid City, South Dakota, lost yesterday to Tampa, Florida. But they play again at 3:30pmET on ABC versus New England (Shelton, Connecticut). I'll be watching!

My New Favorite Little Leaguer

Sorry I haven't posted here in awhile...I certainly haven't abandoned Little League, but have been spending time on our local league and especially at the Little League Softball World Series here in Portland. There's a lot going on there, and you can check it out here.

But, I just watched the 2008 Midwest Regional final and a team from Canyon Lake LL (Rapid City) South Dakota will be the first from its state to go to Williamsport! What a great group of kids, humble and enjoying the moment. But my new favorite: #6 Bill Hendricks. The violin-playing, top student also happens to be the closer. He had me at the first strains of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" on the violin.

Tonight, our own Oregon District 4 Murrayhill Little League will play in the Northwest Regional final tonight versus Washington and even though I'm involved in a rival local league, I'll be watching :)