Little League, Big Dreams

by Charles Euchner

  Game 20: Canada 2, Russia 1—Alex Dunbar struck out ten and tossed a fourhitter; Russia yielded two unearned runs in the first inning.

  Game 21: Venezuela 4, Saudi Arabia 0—Victor Sequera and Richard Alvarez combined for a shutout with eight strikeouts and two hits.

  Game 22: Maine 3, Kentucky 2—Zach Collett’s three-run home run in the third inning overcame a 2–0 Kentucky lead. Sean Murphy pitched the first three innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits. Joey Royer pitched three scoreless innings for the save.

  Game 23: Guam 5, Mexico 3—Trae Santos pitched a complete game, fanning the last five batters to win his second complete game of the series. Down 3–1, Guam scored four runs in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Manley scored two runs on a single, and another scored on an error on the same play.

  Game 24: California 9, Louisiana 3—Austin White and Royce Copeland pitched for California. Reed Reznicek hit a two-run homer and Kalen Pimentel hit his second grand slam in two games.

  RECORDS AFTER POOL PLAY

  POOL A

  Hawaii 3–0

  Florida 2–1

  Pennsylvania 1–2

  Iowa 0–3

  POOL B

  California 3–0

  Louisiana 2–1

  Maine 1–2

  Kentucky 0–3

  POOL C

  Japan 3–0

  Curaçao 2–1

  Venezuela 1–2

  Russia 0–3

  POOL D

  Guam 3–0

  Canada 2–1

  Mexico 1–2

  Saudi Arabia 0–3

  SEMIFINALS

  Game 25: Japan 11, Canada 0—Yusuke Taira hit a two-run homer and a runscoring double scored Japan’s first three runs, and then Japan exploded for eight runs in the fifth. Takuya Sakamoto gave up only one hit in four innings and struck out six batters.

  Game 26: California 6, Florida 2—Kalen Pimentel beat Dante Bichette Jr. in a battle of the teams’ aces, striking out nine batters in six innings. Florida was twice robbed of home runs in the third inning—first when California outfielder Daniel Gibney hauled in a drive over the fence, and then when the umpire called that a ball that went over the fence was a double.

  Game 27: Curaçao 16, Guam 1—Christopher Garia allowed two hits and Curaçao scored eleven runs in the fifth inning.

  Game 28: Hawaii 2, Louisiana 0—Jace Conrad pitched a one-hitter, but that hit was a two-run homer by Sheyne Baniaga. Kini Enos scattered five hits over five innings for the win, and Quentin Guevara struck out two batters in the sixth inning for the save.

  AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL FINALS

  Game 29: Hawaii 6, California 1—Alaka’i Aglipay dominated California for the first four innings, striking out five batters, getting five groundouts, one pop fly, and one baserunner caught stealing. Aglipay struggled in the fifth and was replaced by fireballer Vonn Fe’ao. In the four-run fourth inning, Hawaii scored two runs on bases-loaded walks and one apiece on a hit and an error. A two-run homer by Fe’ao in the fifth inning scored two more.

  Game 30: Curaçao 2, Japan 0—Jurickson Profar outdueled Yusuke Taira, striking out twelve batters. Profar, a star of the 2004 championship team for Curaçao, also knocked in a run and scored a run.

  CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

  Game 31: Hawaii 7, Curaçao 6—Michael Memea’s home run capped one of the greatest rallies in the history of the Little League World Series. Hawaii rallied to overcome a 6–3 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning to send the title game to extra innings for only the second time in fiftynine years. The championship was the first ever for Hawaii, and it prevented Curaçao from becoming the third team to repeat as champions.

  Acknowledgments

  Many people helped make this book possible. The participants in the Little League World Series shared their experiences, honestly and passionately. Others—experts on youth sports, participants in other programs, and people who just care about kids—offered their thoughts as well.

  Greatest thanks go to Hillel Black, my incomparable editor who became as enthusiastic about youth sports as I was and guided me through different approaches to getting and telling this story. Michelle Schoob was the copy editor who helped to make some of the book’s crooked paths straight. Tony Viardo and Lyron Bennett helped develop a marketing plan. Dawn Pope did the book’s design.

  My agent, Sorche Fairbank, was always available to offer good advice on this book and all aspects of my writing career. She’s not only competent and efficient, but creative as well.

  A number of people helped me with my research trips. Deb Bogle got me situated in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. John Kearns, Micheline Soong, and Zeke Kearns offered me their spare bedroom in Honolulu and explained something about Hawaiian culture. The people at the Curaçao Tourist Board, most particularly Vico Rojer, helped to arrange meetings with the right people in Willemstad.

  My sister, Susan Casarez, translated newspaper articles detailing the Venezuela age scandal. Kathy Taylor of Earlham College, the only professor of Papiamentu in America, provided useful background on the culture of Curaçao.

  Isabel Chenoweth provided the beautiful photography for the book. As usual, she offered constant encouragement. She also suggested a new framework for the book when the first two approaches didn’t work.

  As I worked on the book, and considered the importance of coaches in the lives of kids playing ball, I thought often about the people who have taught me. Teachers and friends, they helped me find my way at different critical points in my life. To these friends and teachers, I dedicate this book.

  INDEX

  Abbreviations are explained at the end of the index.

  A

  Abato, Les (HI, manager), 146

  ABC, 58, 158, 260

  ABPD: Achievement by Proxy Disorder, xiii

  Abuse, 126, 128, 130, 132, 216, 281

  “Academies,” 44, 100, 101, 230

  Aglipay, Alaka’i (HI), 62, 76, 78–83, 145, 288–89, 291

  Aglipay, Jesse (HI), 62, 82

  Aglipay, Kana’i (HI), 82

  Aglipay, Po’okele (HI), 82

  Alabama’s Boys of Baseball National Travel Team, 210–11

  Aliviado, Kaeo (HI), 65–66, 69, 72, 73

  Aliviado, Layton (HI, manager), 61, 65–68, 74–75, 79–81, 110–14

  Alkire, Miranda (NY), 161

  All-stars

  Brateevo (RU), 33, 37, 137, 166, 230–33, 287

  Cal Ripken Baseball (MD), 26, 74, 146, 211, 284

  Cannon Street YMCA (SC), 44–45

  Chiba City (JP), 4, 105, 220–23, 287

  Council Rock (PA), 24–27, 77, 188, 287

  Davenport Northwest (IA), 181, 190, 195, 287

  Dhahran (SA), 17–19

  Farmington (CT), 135–36, 190

  Guam League (GU), 11, 231, 234, 281, 287–90

  Lafayette (LA), 27, 180, 287

  Los Leones (VN), 62, 104, 132, 226, 284–85, 287

  Maitland (FL), 26, 135, 165, 195, 285, 287

  Owensboro South (KY), 127, 150, 181, 192, 236, 287

  Pabou (CR), 87–105, 144–45, 242–59, 261–62, 287

  Paina Boyz (HI), 26

  Rancho Buena Vista (CA), 114–18, 166, 169, 172, 187, 287

  Waipio PONY League (HI), 68, 71

  Westbrook (MI), 190–91, 236, 281, 287

  West Oahu (HI), 26, 61–84, 107–12, 238, 242–62

  “works in progrsss,” 12, 72

  Almonte, Danny (NY), 7–8, 100–01

  Alokoa, Calvert (GU), 288

  Altagracia Little League (VN), 8–9

  Alvarez Jr., Richard (VN), 104, 132, 285, 288–89

  Alvey, Aaron (KY), 18

  Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), 207

  Amateur Softball Association, 27

  American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame, 213

  Andrews, Dr. James, 125, 133

  Arabian American Little League (SA), 287

  Arakawa, Lance(HI), 64

  Arciniega, J
ulio (MX), 288

  Asian teams, 23

  ASMI (American Sports Medicine Institute), 133, 138

  Atkinson, John, 122

  Atkinson, Justin, 122

  Avendaño, Alfonso (VN, manager), 9

  B

  Babe Ruth Baseball, 74, 207, 211

  Baniaga, John (HI), 107, 266

  Baniaga, Sheyne (HI), 65, 72, 73, 81, 165, 236, 246, 248

  Baseball America, 207

  “Baseball for the Ages” team, 207

  Bats, aluminum, 50

  Bichette Jr., Dante (FL), 4, 13–14, 119, 195, 288

  Bichette Sr., Dante (FL, coach), 1–3, 13–14, 26, 109, 119, 195

  Bigelow, Bob, 187

  Big League World Series, 44, 54

  “Big Papi.” See Ortiz, David

  Billy, Jason (FL), 3, 26

  Bono, Mike (FL), 120, 132

  Boston Red Sox (MA), 72, 133, 196, 205

  Bowman Field, 37, 41

  BP: batting practice

  Canada, 120–22

  Japan, 120, 122

  Rancho Buena Vista (CA), 114–18, 166, 169, 172, 187

  West Oahu Little League, 108–12

  Brandao, Rudmichaell, 235

  Branford Little League (CT), 282–3

  Brateevo Little League (RU), 33, 37, 137, 166, 230–33, 287

  British Columbia (CN). See Whalley Little League (CN)

  Brodbeck, Opie (FL), 216–18

  Bronx Little League, 8

  Brownell, Katie (NY), 46

  Bubbles (HI). See Baniaga, Sheyne (HI)

  Bucher, Charles, 46

  Burns, Bobby (NV, manager), 22, 26

  Burns, Joe (coach, CN), 122

  Burns, Mitchell (CN), 3, 33, 122, 161

  Burroughs, Sean (CA), 18

  C

  Cal Ripken Baseball, 74, xi

  Cal Ripken Leagues, 54, 66

  Cal Senior’s Yard, 212

  Canada. See Whalley Little League (CN)

  Cannon Street YMCA all-stars, 44–45

  Carl Stotz Field, 37

  Carolina, Rayshelon(CR), 18, 91, 97, 102, 201

  Cash, Sid (FL, manager), 26, 119, 120

  Catano, Matt (FL), 121–22

  Catcher’s equipment, 50

  Celestina, Michelangelo (CR, manager), 97, 99, 100, 137

  Central-East Little League (GU), 11, 231, 234, 281, 287–90

  Chandler team (AZ), 22

  Cheating, 8, 47, 101, 112, 199–202, 234

  Chiba City all-stars (JP), 4, 105, 220–23, 287

  Childhood

  obesity, 153

  parent-centric view of, 80–81, 131, 159, 191, 280

  professionalizing, 46–47, 145, 187, 278, 284, xii

  re-engineering, 278

  travel teams, 208

  Chokoi. See Profar, Jurickson (CR)

  Cisco, Galen (coach), 117

  Clemente, Roberto, 90

  Coaches, 47, 51, 201–2, ix

  Coaching, 2, 279–80, 284

  Coakley, Jay, 187

  Coffie, Ivanon (CR), 100

  Collett, Zach (MI), 289

  Conrad, Brenn ( LA), 4

  Conrad, Jace ( LA), 4, 193–94, 236, 291

  Conrad, Mike (LA, manager), 193, 194

  Continental American Baseball League, 207

  Cooperstown Dreams Park, 205–9, 213–15

  Copeland, Royce (CA), 143–44, 170, 172, 289

  Coquivacoa Little League (VN), 8–9

  Cornieles, Martin (VN), 132

  Corona Dodgers (CA), 211

  Council Rock Little League (PA), 24–25, 77, 188, 287

  Curaçao (CR), 87–89, 92–103

  Curaçao Little League. See Pabou Little League (CR)

  Curiel, Frank (CR, manager), 87, 90–92, 100, 228

  Curveball, 129, 138–40, 146, 192, 227, 232–34

  D

  Daley, Arthur, 43

  Daugherty, Luke (KY), 128–30

  Davenport Northwest Little League (IA), 181, 190, 195, 287

  De Caster, Yurendell (CR), 88

  Dee, Johnny (CA), 117, 165, 169

  Degano, Jeff (CN), 132

  Delaware tournament, 25

  Demeyer, Dylan (CA), 34

  DeShields Jr., Delino (AL), 210–11

  Dhahran all-star (SA), 17–19

  Dickenson, Amy (NJ), 46

  DiSanto, John (FL, manager), 217

  Discipline, 28, 94, 167, 189, 234–36, 269

  Disney World tournament, 209

  Dixie Youth Baseball, 44, 207, 211, 284, xi

  Downs, Chris, 46, 145, 159

  Draft system, 42, 46–47, 96–97, 126, 158, 282

  Drugs, 31–32, 140

  Drury, Chris (CT), 24

  Dugout mascot, 31, 50, 158, 244

  Dunbar, Alex (CN), 289

  Dunnam, Lee (FL), 288

  Durling, Aaron (SA), 16–19

  E

  Earll, Gwen (HI), 67

  Edel, Leon, 70

  Elkin, Vikto (RU), 232

  EMEA, 7, 287

  Enola Little League(PA), 58

  Enos, Kini (HI), 66–67, 145, 176, 248–50, 288, 291

  Enos, Myron Jr. (HI), 65

  Erofeev, Alexey (RU, manager), 139, 230–34

  ESPN, 21, 28, 52–55, 64, 69

  Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), 287

  Evans, Norm, 166

  Ewa Beach League. See West Oahu Little League (HI)

  F

  Faneyte, Norval (CA, coach), 101–2

  Farmington Little League (CT), 135–6, 190

  Fe’ao, Vonn (HI), 72–3, 76, 81, 112, 288, 290

  Feraude, Nathan de la (CN), 121, 188, 288

  Finocchiaro, Nick (MI), 288

  Fischer, Chris (CN), 132, 288

  Fleisig, Glenn, 133

  Flores, Luis, 8–9

  Frank Curiel Field, 87, 97, 99, 230

  Frostbelt teams, 27

  G

  Gabriel, Lyle (CA, coach), 209

  Galla, Tom (CT, manager), 23–24, 275, 276–7

  Garia, Christopher (CR), 93, 101, 132, 246, 250–61, 290

  Gehron, Jimmy (PA), 39–40

  Gehron, Major (PA), 39

  Gibney, Daniel (CA), 290

  Glaus, Troy, 116

  Grand Slam Parade, 29–31

  Guam League (GU), 11, 231, 234, 281, 287–90

  Guers, Greg (PA), 289

  Guevara, Quentin (HI), 79, 81, 266, 270, 288, 291

  Gwynn, Tony, 117–18

  H

  Hale, Creighton, 46, 49–50, 51, 127

  Hale, Rick (KY, manager), 29, 126–30, 139–40, 180–81, 186

  Hammaker, Gene, 57

  Hartley, Bill (PA, manager), 25, 79–80, 188–90

  Hartley, Ryan ( PA), 79–80, 84, 189

  Hawaii Little League. See West Oahu Little League (HI)

  Hensley, Meulens (CR), 100, 102

  Higgins, Heather (NY), 161

  Ho, Don (HI), 62

  Hoboken Little League (NJ), 45

  Holden, Andrew (SA), 289

  Horvath, Ryan (MI), 218

  Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 1, 6, 10–11, 20, 35, 37

  I

  Injuries

  Andrews, Dr. James, 125, 133

  pitch count, 132, 136, 138–41, 146, 236, 282

  Injury, 42, 49–50, 125, 133–39, 143

  The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 133

  ASMI (American Sports Medicine Institute), 133, 138

  curveball, 129, 138–40, 146, 192, 227, 232–34

  prevention, 49–51

  International Baseball Association, 94, 234

  International Grove, 1, 4, 20–21

  International teams, 7

  Isabella, Vernon (CR, manager), 86, 92, 96–97, 100

  Iwata, Shuhei (JP), 226–27, 289

  J

  Japanese

  franchises, 101

  Little League (See Chiba City Little League (JP)

  Javier, Ed, 75, 253

  Javier, Ethan (
HI), 253

  Jenson, Vernie (coach), 101

  Jeter, Derek (umpire), 216

  Johnson, Matthew (KY), 127–29

  Johnston, Kathryn, 45

  Jones, Andruw (CR), 94–95, 99, 100

  Junior League World Series, 54, 101

  K

  Kaise, Tomokazu (JP), 226–27

  Kam, Andy, 178–79

  Kam, Harrison (HI), 76, 78, 257–58, 271

  Kang-Tu Little League (TW), 24, 108

  Keds Little League National Tournament, 55

  Keener, Steve (Little League CEO)

  age and residence, verify player’s, 9

  child abuse, 141

  coach training, 51, 52

  gaming shops, kiddie, 156

  handicapped children, 51–52

  health, risking player’s, 130–31

  pitch-count rule., 141

  pitcher’s arms, protecting, 140

  safety training, 52

  sponsorship, Subway, 152

  travel teams, 26, 27

  TV media coverage, 53–54

  Keith, John (MI), 216

  Kelsch, Paul (SA), 33

  Kiddie gaming shops, 156

  Kim, Aaron (CA), 236, 288

  Kitashima, Tyron (HI, manager), 72, 73, 110

  Knight, Rich (MI, manager), 4, 136–37, 191–92

  Koufax, Sandy, 52, 136

  Kovar, Skip (FL), 13, 288

  Kozlowski, Mitch (MI), 217

  L

  Lafayette Little League (LA), 27, 180, 287

  Lamade Stadium, 13, 20–21

  Lauer, Darren (PA), 79, 289

  Lee, Emmett (CA, manager), 22

  Lewis, Darren, 189

  Lewis, Nathan (CA), 30, 124–25, 142–44, 170, 199, 288

  Lezynski, Blaise (PA), 4, 79, 81, 289

  Liberia, Sorick (CR), 95, 97, 100, 104, 137, 288–89

  Little League

  age groups, 44

  charter, 42

  childhood, professionalizing, 46–47, 145, 187, 278, xii

  draft system, 42, 46–47, 96–97, 126, 158, 282

  Dugout mascot, 31, 50, 158, 244

  federal incorporation, 51

  female membership, 43, 45–46

  globalization, 48–49

  growth, 42, 49

  headquarters, 51

  injury prevention, 49–51

  memorabilia business, 51

  non-profit organization, 48

  racial exclusion, 44–45

  Lobur, Larry (MI, coach), 216

  Lock Haven team, 57

  Los Leones Little League (VN), 62, 104, 132, 226, 284–85, 287

  Lourens, Naeem (CR), 97