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| Adventure Girls! Fessminski! |
This particular adventure brought us to the Little League World Series and Williamsport, PA. In 2014, Mo'Ne Davis and her Philadelphia Little League team took the world by storm. The lovely Mo'Ne Davis' made history in 2014 by becoming the first female to pitch a shut out LLWS game. She was also the first ever Little League baseball player to make the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Mo'Ne Davis brought my attention back to the LLWS. What kept my attention was the unbelievable display of sportsmanship these kids exhibited. Every team playing in the series was so impressive in how they interacted not only with their coaches and teammates but with the coaches and players on the rival teams. They all gave props and cheers where due, even if it meant giving them to an opposing team.
In August of 2015, a phenomenal Pennsylvania Little League team from Redland, PA was taking Little League world by storm. Redland represented the Mid Atlantic part of the United States in the series. They were crushing their opponents left and right. The Pearland, Texas team, representing the Southwest, was also rocking their opponents so, a friendly rivalry between the two teams was developing. Becks and I decided we needed to check this rivalry out in person.
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| We have arrived! |
Turns out, admission to the Little League World Series is free. Yes, you more than likely will have to pay to park somewhere, but the parking really isn't very expensive. I think we paid $5.00 one day and $10.00 the day of the championship. Once we went through the required security check, we were free to roam around Howard J. Lamade Stadium and perhaps slide down the hills on cardboard boxes.
Yes, cardboard sledding is an actual thing and it is HUGE at the LLWS. Kids and even some adults, bring flattened cardboard into the stadium, trek up the really large, grass covered hill, and slide down the hill on the cardboard. It is quite the sight. Very amusing to say the least. The kids have such a blast doing it and I think that is pretty damn awesome.
I am not sure how or why the cardboard sledding tradition started but it is almost as major an event as the games themselves. Even the little league players partake in this cardboard tradition. And some grownups do too. Maybe I found some cardboard. Maybe I slid down the hill on the cardboard. Maybe my butt hurt afterwards. Maybe I only went part way up the hill and not all the way to the top. There are a lot of maybes going on here. Maybe I'll shut up.
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| Watching the game from the hill. And sledding with cardboard. |
What isn't a maybe and is definitely a definite is that the energy in the stadium was electric. The 2015 LLWS playoff and championship broke records for attendance over the course of the two week run. That August, almost 500,000 people attended the two week event. Becky and myself attended twice. We attended the Redland Vs. Pearland game as well as the championship game between Redland and Japan.
The first Redland game we attended was on a Wednesday night. We stood near the giant flag pole to watch the game. The enormous American flag was flowing beautifully in the dark of night, illuminated by the stadium's bright, glowing lights. The crowd cheered wildly every time Redland scored a run. Naturally, many people in attendance were rooting for the Pennsylvania team to win but plenty of cheers also went to the kiddos representing Pearland, Texas and their outstanding coaches.
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| My first LLWS game. Total blast. |
I'm pretty sure he was the only one who believed this but maybe there is one other person out there that buys into him. The negative things this man sputtered towards the players and coaches were obnoxious, rude and uncalled for. These were kids, not major league ball players.
Yes, they were playing important games that were being televised around the world. Yes, this was the opportunity of a lifetime for all of the young players and their coaches. Yes, winning or losing a game was a huge deal but, that did not take away from the fact that these kids were only eleven and twelve years old and still developing their ball playing skills.
Eventually, the people around this man, myself and Becky including, began glaring at him with disgust. A few people even told him to knock it off. He didn't take it too well. He was just an all around a-hole. I was honestly waiting for a fight to break out. The people attending the game with the obnoxious man were also getting pissed at him, telling him to simmer down. Thankfully he sulked off after spewing a few more insults.
As for the game being played out of the field, it was a very exciting to see the top two teams representing the United States give their all for one heck of a ball game. These youths has so much talent. I remembered looking up at the scoreboard each time a kid came to bat thinking to myself, what MLB team will this child be playing for one day? Because, some of the Redland and Pearland players will definitely find themselves in the majors no doubt.
When the game came to an end, Redland walked away with the victory. A few days later, they would find themselves in the World Series championship game. Their opponent... an outstanding team from Japan. Of course, Becky and I attended that game as well. How could we not? This was too exciting for the state of Pennsylvania. We had to witness the championship game that Saturday.
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| The stadium was huge, the atmosphere, amazing and Old Glory was waving and welcoming all! |
I decided to bring out my red white and blue, star spangled leggings to represent the USA for the big game. I looked silly, but also received quite a few compliments on them as well. I was representing the USA all the way! Becks and I were super psyched and ready for Redland vs Japan. However, we were not ready to get scorched in the 90 degree, very humid, super sunny weather that Saturday afternoon. It was a super hot in Williamsport, PA. It may have sucked a little.
Anyway, the game started out great for the USA. Redland scored 10 runs to Japan's 2, including a grand slam home run in the first inning. The crowd was completely wild. Becky and I were hooting and hollering and dumping bottles of water on ourselves. It was hot but the excitement was too immense to care.
Unfortunately, Japan was just getting warmed up.
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| Spying on the sportscasters. |
Japan answered back with seven runs in the second inning. They kept loading the bases and the runners kept crossing home plate. Redland was having great difficulty getting to three outs in that inning. Japan then took the lead in the third inning. The score was 13-11. The summer temperatures were almost as unbearable as the deflated energy that quickly crept across the stadium. There were still three more inning to play though. Anything could happen.
Becks was scanning the crowds and noticed the really cool coach with the dreadlocks from Pearland, Texas walking around. Becks suggested I go ask to take a a picture with him. So I did. Andrew Solomon is an outstanding coach and mentor for the boys he manages. He was also a really nice person. He obliged my request to take a photo with him. I wasn't the only one though. So many people approached him to shake hands and take pictures. He didn't refuse anyone although I am sure he really wanted to just watch the game. He was a celebrity in that stadium no doubt.
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| Championship Day! Had the pleasure of meeting Pearland, Texas manager Andrew Solomon. |
Ok, back to the game. The fourth and fifth innings proceeded to be scoreless. Neither team was able to do anything against their opponent. The heat had to be getting to them as well I thought. It was sweltering out. When the sixth inning rolled along, Japan managed to put up five more runs, sealing the fate of the championship. Sighs.
Dejected, the Redland team fought tears and sadness to congratulate Japan on a well earned victory. What was even more endearing was watching the kids from Japan consoling the Redland players after their heartbreaking loss. All of these kids were so special I thought. They were my heroes.
Becky and I discussed how impressed and proud we were of the sportsmanship, conduct and human spirit all of these kids displayed. We hoped that life would not change these kids at their cores. All of us know how tough and disappointing life can be at times. It can and does change us. But, if we can keep in our core, a faith in humanity and continue to nurture our childlike spirit while applying wisdom and experience, the good will always outweigh the bad, even if it seems the opposite.
Chrissy
