A new partnership was announced yesterday on the women's pro softball website:
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (Feb. 11, 2009) – The National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Softball League and Little League International have established a partnership that will provide the Little League Softball program with additional training and education resources, and expand awareness and opportunities for the NPF and the nearly 400,000 girls who play in the various divisions of Little League Softball.
As teams and leagues around the country gear up for the 2009 season, this great news should provide a boost for coaches and players as they build skills and form teams.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
2008 LLSBWS Champs Meet the President
The summer stars of Simpsonville, South Carolina, got a chance to think about their victorious August as the 2008 Little League Softball World Series champs were invited to meet President and Mrs. Bush during a stopover in South Carolina:
"Softball Champs say meeting President not Bush League"
"Softball Champs say meeting President not Bush League"
Monday, August 18, 2008
2008 LLSWS: Final Links
The teams from the 2008 Little League Softball World Series have all gone home...the tournament website has been updated and Alpenrose Stadium/Dairy has been cleaned up and is a little quieter these days...
Here are some final links as local papers/websites follow the girls in their hometowns:
"Simpsonville Holds Parade for Little League Softball Champions"
"It Was A Dream Come True"
"Sterling Celebrates Third Place Finish"
"Robbinsville Softball to be Feted with Parade"
Thanks!
Thank you to the volunteers who make the Little League Softball World Series happen. Just like millions of dedicated youth sport volunteers around the world, they do it for the kids. From hosting players in their homes, to concessions, to scorekeeping, to groundskeeping, to painting, to websiting (?), to picture-taking, to video-ing, to coordinating of Opening/Closing ceremonies, to announcing, to umpiring, to running around setting up tents and lights and getting ice and giving directions to the local grocery store...I could go on and on. Great job!
See you in August 2009!
Here are some final links as local papers/websites follow the girls in their hometowns:
"Simpsonville Holds Parade for Little League Softball Champions"
"It Was A Dream Come True"
"Sterling Celebrates Third Place Finish"
"Robbinsville Softball to be Feted with Parade"
Thanks!
Thank you to the volunteers who make the Little League Softball World Series happen. Just like millions of dedicated youth sport volunteers around the world, they do it for the kids. From hosting players in their homes, to concessions, to scorekeeping, to groundskeeping, to painting, to websiting (?), to picture-taking, to video-ing, to coordinating of Opening/Closing ceremonies, to announcing, to umpiring, to running around setting up tents and lights and getting ice and giving directions to the local grocery store...I could go on and on. Great job!
See you in August 2009!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
"The Happiest Girl(s) In The Whole USA"
THANK YOU to the girls who play softball...safe trip home and keep those memories close. Work hard in school and sports...the world is yours!
P.S. This is why so many volunteers spend almost two weeks of their lives in tents, scooping ice cream, selling 50/50 tickets, announcing games, taking photos, getting ice, painting bleachers, dragging fields, holding flags, videoing, and organizing it all... :
(from this morning's Daily Gazette, Sterling, Illinois, and writer Paul Skrbina)
Sterling (Little League) spent Wednesday night at a hotel pool, swimming with their third-place game opponents from Puerto Rico. "That's extremely awesome," McKenna Pearson said. I never imagined hanging out with a team from Puerto Rico in Portland, Oregon."
The experience even inspired Jennifer Rahn to dream bigger.
"I'll look back on it as the experience of a lifetime," she said. "I'm going to love telling all the stories I can.
I might even try to coach a team and get them here."
Jennifer, we can't wait.
2008 LLSWS Wrap-Up
The 2008 Little League Softball World Series is in the books, and we have a new champion: Simpsonville Little League, Simpsonville, South Carolina, representing the South region.
I think the competition at this year's tournament was the best ever. It's a credit to the teams, coaches and fans that keep Little League Softball chugging along, and to the many volunteers who make the LLSWS happen.
Links
"Little League Softball World Series: Final Day" (Oregonian newspaper + slideshow)
"Daniel's Hoover Leads South to World Series Title"
"Simpsonville Girls Win Little League Softball World Series"
"Rooting For Robbinsville"
"A Week of Alpenrose Magic Will Last A Lifetime"
"Sterling Takes Third in the World"
"Third Is The Word"
"Two's Company for Portland Family Hosting Girls"
"DeMotte Native to Work Softball Title Game"
Link to my photos from last night
I think the competition at this year's tournament was the best ever. It's a credit to the teams, coaches and fans that keep Little League Softball chugging along, and to the many volunteers who make the LLSWS happen.
Links
"Little League Softball World Series: Final Day" (Oregonian newspaper + slideshow)
"Daniel's Hoover Leads South to World Series Title"
"Simpsonville Girls Win Little League Softball World Series"
"Rooting For Robbinsville"
"A Week of Alpenrose Magic Will Last A Lifetime"
"Sterling Takes Third in the World"
"Third Is The Word"
"Two's Company for Portland Family Hosting Girls"
"DeMotte Native to Work Softball Title Game"
Link to my photos from last night
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
South Wins Again!
Congratulations to Team South: Simpsonville Little League, Simpsonville, South Carolina, your 2008 Little League Softball World Series champs!
They broke open a close ball game with five runs in the top of the sixth inning to defeat Team East from Robbinsville, New Jersey, 9-5, in tonight's championship game, which aired live on ESPN2. A team from the South has won the last three of four final games.
They broke open a close ball game with five runs in the top of the sixth inning to defeat Team East from Robbinsville, New Jersey, 9-5, in tonight's championship game, which aired live on ESPN2. A team from the South has won the last three of four final games.
2008 LLSWS Championship Day
What an amazing night of softball yesterday! And what a treat for viewers -- two, one-run ball games. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay for Semifinal II: I missed the three-hour game while I was running a three-hour Little League meeting :) Here is a fast recap:
Semifinal I: East 1, Central 0
Semifinal II: South 7, Latin America 6
Championship: East (Robbinsville, NJ) vs. South (Simpsonville, SC)
4pmPDT, broadcast live on ESPN2. Both teams are undefeated in the tournament -- it wil be a good one!
Today's Schedule
All of the 2008 LLSWS teams are in action today, finishing out their tournament experience with a game and one last opportunity to play together.
If you are local, join us at Alpenrose. The barbeque is not your run-of-the-mill stuff: great burgers and chicken salads and polish dogs from the Traeger. You can get a huge cup of Baskin-Robbins/Alpenrose ice cream for $2. There are mascots, music, and yesterday, an ESPY winner! Has your son or daughter seen an ESPN production up close? Admission and parking are free -- while a 4pm start is a challenge for working folks in the Portland area, the time was set by ESPN to put the game in primetime on the east coast. Join us as soon as you can :)
Links
I took photos from the first game last night (East vs. Central) and uploaded them here.
"East, South Win, Advance to Finals"
"Simpsonville Stars Reach Final..."
"Robbinsville One Win Away From World Title"
"Sterling Drops Heartbreaker"
"Driving Them Batty" (Sterling, Illinois)
"Series Offers Father-Daughter Therapy" (Sterling LL team)
Semifinal I: East 1, Central 0
Semifinal II: South 7, Latin America 6
Championship: East (Robbinsville, NJ) vs. South (Simpsonville, SC)
4pmPDT, broadcast live on ESPN2. Both teams are undefeated in the tournament -- it wil be a good one!
Today's Schedule
All of the 2008 LLSWS teams are in action today, finishing out their tournament experience with a game and one last opportunity to play together.
If you are local, join us at Alpenrose. The barbeque is not your run-of-the-mill stuff: great burgers and chicken salads and polish dogs from the Traeger. You can get a huge cup of Baskin-Robbins/Alpenrose ice cream for $2. There are mascots, music, and yesterday, an ESPY winner! Has your son or daughter seen an ESPN production up close? Admission and parking are free -- while a 4pm start is a challenge for working folks in the Portland area, the time was set by ESPN to put the game in primetime on the east coast. Join us as soon as you can :)
Links
I took photos from the first game last night (East vs. Central) and uploaded them here.
"East, South Win, Advance to Finals"
"Simpsonville Stars Reach Final..."
"Robbinsville One Win Away From World Title"
"Sterling Drops Heartbreaker"
"Driving Them Batty" (Sterling, Illinois)
"Series Offers Father-Daughter Therapy" (Sterling LL team)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Semi-Final Game I: Sights
I'm blogging live from Alpenrose right after the first semifinal game of the 2008 Little League Softball World Series. In a battle of two tough teams, great pitching, and amazing defense, East (Robbinsville, New Jersey) defeated Central (Sterling, Illinois), 1-0. Team East advances to the Championship Game tomorrow at 4pmPDT live on ESPN2.
Here are some quick photos of the site today:
ESPN Day I + Links
This day is always my favorite day of the Little League Softball World Series.
At this point, all of the teams have played their hearts out and four are very happy. The remaining six teams are relaxed, having fun, acting like girls... Tonight there will be more laughter and silliness and excitement in the stands, as they will be filled with fans and lots of PLAYERS who have the night off and can watch and enjoy the games, and ice cream, and snow cones, and texting :)
ESPN's Holly Rowe and other staff were roaming around last night, talking to folks and getting the tower ready for tonight's broadcasts.
Here is today's schedule:
10amPDT: All-Star Game
The six teams not plaing in tonight's semifinal games will each send players to this morning's All-Star Game to join forces and to play a fun game with new friends and new coaches.
The game is followed by a wonderful barbeque hosted by the Cadonau Family, owners and operators of Alpenrose Dairy.
4pmPDT: Semifinal I/Game 21 (broadcast live on ESPN2)
East (Robbinsville, New Jersey) vs. Central (Sterling, Illinois)
6:30pmPDT: Semifinal II/Game 22 (broadcast live on ESPN2)
South (Simpsonville, South Carolina) vs. Latin America (Paunabo, Puerto Rico)
**Please note: there will be no internet video or audio coverage of the semifinal and championship games due to agreement with ESPN. You can follow the live boxscores for Game I, Game II , and the Championship/Game 27 from the main website.**
Tuesday Morning Links
"Sterling tops California; Advances to Semifinals"
"Sterling Advances to Final Four With Shutout"
"Family Makes Room For Six" (story about hosting Sterling players)
"Robbinsville's Battery Recharged"
"Simpsonville Stars Go National"
At this point, all of the teams have played their hearts out and four are very happy. The remaining six teams are relaxed, having fun, acting like girls... Tonight there will be more laughter and silliness and excitement in the stands, as they will be filled with fans and lots of PLAYERS who have the night off and can watch and enjoy the games, and ice cream, and snow cones, and texting :)
ESPN's Holly Rowe and other staff were roaming around last night, talking to folks and getting the tower ready for tonight's broadcasts.
Here is today's schedule:
10amPDT: All-Star Game
The six teams not plaing in tonight's semifinal games will each send players to this morning's All-Star Game to join forces and to play a fun game with new friends and new coaches.
The game is followed by a wonderful barbeque hosted by the Cadonau Family, owners and operators of Alpenrose Dairy.
4pmPDT: Semifinal I/Game 21 (broadcast live on ESPN2)
East (Robbinsville, New Jersey) vs. Central (Sterling, Illinois)
6:30pmPDT: Semifinal II/Game 22 (broadcast live on ESPN2)
South (Simpsonville, South Carolina) vs. Latin America (Paunabo, Puerto Rico)
**Please note: there will be no internet video or audio coverage of the semifinal and championship games due to agreement with ESPN. You can follow the live boxscores for Game I, Game II , and the Championship/Game 27 from the main website.**
Tuesday Morning Links
"Sterling tops California; Advances to Semifinals"
"Sterling Advances to Final Four With Shutout"
"Family Makes Room For Six" (story about hosting Sterling players)
"Robbinsville's Battery Recharged"
"Simpsonville Stars Go National"
Monday, August 11, 2008
Final Pool Play Game
There was a buzz in the Alpenrose stadium bleachers this evening as Pool Play of the 2008 Little League Softball World Series wrapped up with Game 20, Central vs. West. The winner of the game would take second place in Pool B, and thus move on to Tuesday's semifinal match-up with Pool A winner (East/Robbinsville, New Jersey) broadcast live on ESPN2.
Team Central (Sterling, Illinois) and Team West (Grand Terrace, California) played an outstanding ballgame with great pitching, timely hitting and agressive baserunning. Through five innings, there was only one run (Central) and the cheering sections were getting louder and the line for ice cream nonexistent. Who wanted to leave even for a few minutes during this game?
Central defeated West, 5-0. Here are some photos of Alpenrose tonight, readying for ESPN games tomorrow:
Semifinal I, 4pmPDT: East versus Central and
Semifinal II, 6:30PDT: South versus Latin America
Pix from Game 19: Southwest vs. Latin America
2008 Little League Softball World Series: #19, What a game!
Latin America (Maunabo, Puerto Rico) and Southwest (Waco, Texas) battled for the second place spot in Pool A and the chance to play on ESPN2 in Tuesday's 6:30PDT semifinal. The girls from Puerto Rico outlasted the ones from Texas, 5-4 in a game that saw Team Southwest score all their runs in the second inning, including a homerun over the fence by Sarah Beth Tobin that made the score 4-1. But Team Latin America scored a run in each the remaining innings for the win.
Latin America (Maunabo, Puerto Rico) and Southwest (Waco, Texas) battled for the second place spot in Pool A and the chance to play on ESPN2 in Tuesday's 6:30PDT semifinal. The girls from Puerto Rico outlasted the ones from Texas, 5-4 in a game that saw Team Southwest score all their runs in the second inning, including a homerun over the fence by Sarah Beth Tobin that made the score 4-1. But Team Latin America scored a run in each the remaining innings for the win.
Setting The Table for ESPN + Links!
Today is a big day for the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Oregon. Several teams are still in contention for playing on ESPN2 in tomorrow's semifinal games:
Pool A: The East team (Robbinsville, New Jersey) has gone undefeated and finally gets their bye day to rest for the first (4pm local) semifinal game vs. Pool B #2.
The Pool A #2 spot is still open with two teams tied at 2-1 records, Southwest (Waco, Texas) and Latin America (Maunabo, Puerto Rico) -- and those two play each other tonight at 5:30pm on the East field.
Pool B: The South team (Simpsonville, South Carolina) has also gone undefeated in pool play. They play in the first game of the day versus Asia-Pacific. If they win, they will be Pool B #1 and play at 6:30pm on ESPN2 in the second semi-final. If they lose, we must look at the Pool Play Tiebreaker rules.
Two teams are tied with 2-1 records in Pool B: West (Grand Terrace, California) and Central (Sterling, Illinois). And, you guessed it, they will play each other in the final game of Pool Play this evening at 8pm on the main field.
Monday Morning Links
Bacolod Little League (Philippines)
Midway All Stars (Southwest team)
"Robbinsville's Speed is Decisive"
"Girls At Home In Oregon" (Sterling, Illinois)
Pool A: The East team (Robbinsville, New Jersey) has gone undefeated and finally gets their bye day to rest for the first (4pm local) semifinal game vs. Pool B #2.
The Pool A #2 spot is still open with two teams tied at 2-1 records, Southwest (Waco, Texas) and Latin America (Maunabo, Puerto Rico) -- and those two play each other tonight at 5:30pm on the East field.
Pool B: The South team (Simpsonville, South Carolina) has also gone undefeated in pool play. They play in the first game of the day versus Asia-Pacific. If they win, they will be Pool B #1 and play at 6:30pm on ESPN2 in the second semi-final. If they lose, we must look at the Pool Play Tiebreaker rules.
Two teams are tied with 2-1 records in Pool B: West (Grand Terrace, California) and Central (Sterling, Illinois). And, you guessed it, they will play each other in the final game of Pool Play this evening at 8pm on the main field.
Monday Morning Links
Bacolod Little League (Philippines)
Midway All Stars (Southwest team)
"Robbinsville's Speed is Decisive"
"Girls At Home In Oregon" (Sterling, Illinois)
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Friday, August 08, 2008
Alpenrose Sights
The motto of the West Team!
Teams are issued courtesy cars for use during the week. It's great to spot one on the freeway or around town.
You've heard of the Olympic Village...this is the Umpire Village at the Softball World Series!
Oh Canada!
Teams are issued courtesy cars for use during the week. It's great to spot one on the freeway or around town.
You've heard of the Olympic Village...this is the Umpire Village at the Softball World Series!
Oh Canada!
Pix from Day 1
Click here for a photo album from Day 1 of the 2008 Little League Softball World Series.
Friday Morning Links
"Italian Team's Expedition for Competition Makes a Portland Stop" Oregonian (Portland's main daily paper)
NJ.com ("everything New Jersey")
"Midway Wins Opener"
Grand Terrace Opener
"Sterling All-Stars Take a Break Before First World Series Game"
NJ.com ("everything New Jersey")
"Midway Wins Opener"
Grand Terrace Opener
"Sterling All-Stars Take a Break Before First World Series Game"
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