USTDC

Photo of USTDC courtesy of Les Duffin

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Little League International World Series

I'm watching Taiwan ("Chinese Taipei") play Mexico in the International Little League Championship.

  • Top of the 2nd inning and Taiwan just scored the first run of the game.
  • Taipei scores another run! (2-0)
  • The Taiwan pitcher throws a 73 MPH fastball! The announcer says that's equivalent to 95 MPH in the major leagues! After two innings, still 2-0.
  • You DON'T want to make any errors against this team because they'll make you pay. They've obviously been well coached on playing fundamental baseball. Top of the 3rd inning, bases loaded, score now 3-0.
  • Taiwan leaves three on base in the top of the 3rd inning. Score now 4-0. These kids could beat the Cubs. Actually, I think my Sunday school class could beat the Cubs.
  • Three up and three down for Mexico in the bottom of the 3rd. Score still 4-0 Taiwan. The kids from Taiwan look like they're having fun and enjoying themselves.
  • Mexico scores 2 runs in the 4th inning. Score 4-2 Taiwan. Felt sorry for the Taiwan catcher who made a couple of very rare errors.
  • Taiwan at bat in the top of the 5th. Three outs. Looks like both teams are settled in.
  • Error on the Taiwan shortstop. Mexico runner on first base.
  • Double play! Then a ground-out to short. Still 4-2 after 5 and heading for the final inning. It has started raining and the field lights have been turned on.
  • Taiwan coach gathers team before the sixth inning: "Let's bring victory home!"
  • Taiwan has a runner on 2nd. Still raining, but apparently not hard enough to stop the game. Wild pitch, runner advances to third. Batter walks -- runners now at first and third with one out. Mexico sending in a relief pitcher.
  • Stand-up double down the 3rd base line scores two runs. Now 6-2 Taiwan. Raining harder now.
  • Rain delay. The grounds crew covers the infield.
  • Rain delay
  • Rain delay
  • Rain delay
  • ZZzzz....
  • "How much of human life is lost in waiting." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • "Between the wish and the result lies waiting." -- Unknown
  • "People count up the faults of those who keep them waiting." -- French proverb
  • The rain has finally stopped. The players are ready. Play ball!
  • Error in the outfield; ball drops between players. Taiwan has runner on first with two outs. Hit-errors-two runs score! Score is 9-2 Taiwan.
  • Popped out to 2nd baseman. Three outs. Going to the bottom of the 6th (final) inning with Taiwan leading 9-2.
  • Mexico punches a single through the infield.
  • Drive to center field. Run scores. Batter goes to second. Score 9-3. Runners at 2nd and 3rd, no outs.
  • Batter strikes out. One out.
  • Ground ball to short. Runner out at first. One run scores. Runner at third. Two outs.
  • Close play at first; runner safe (on a VERY bad call!). Score 9-4. Two outs.
  • Batter strikes out!
TAIWAN BEATS MEXICO!!

2 comments:

Victor said...

Fortunately or unfortunately, California beats Taiwan in the championship game.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090830&content_id=6702784&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb California wins Little League WS crown
Championship the fifth straight for United States 08/30/09 6:30 PM ET
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- With vice president Joe Biden watching from the stands, California rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei, 6-3, and win the Little League World Series on Sunday at Lamade Stadium.

Don said...

Yes, I'm afraid so. I watched the game this afternoon (my time) and I was hoping the kids from Taiwan would have another 6th inning rally as they did in their previous game, but it was not to be.

Maybe next year.