Here's a huge THANK YOU to the volunteer staff and umpires of the 2009 Little League Softball World Series. The tournament is a once-in-a-lifetime experience (or twice-in-a-lifetime for some kids :) that makes everye effort to cater to the players, coaches and families from the ten teams who make it through the summer of qualifying levels: District, Section, State, Regional and finally, WS.
Through 20 Pool Play Games and then bracket/consolation play, we have been treated to outstanding softball and sportsmanship from all the teams. It is an honor to play here and it has been an honor to showcase their efforts.
One team emerged the Champion: Warner Robins American Little League, Warner Robins, Georgia, representing the Southeast Region. They returned home heroes yesterday, but all the girls are heroes in my book...
Thanks to everyone for a great week!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Thursday Morning Links
Warner Robins, Georgia, stormed through the title game last eveningwith a 14-2 win over Crawford, Texas, to take the 2009 Little League Softball World Series title in Portland, Oregon.
Here are some links:
"Girls Rule: WR Softball Team Wins World Series"
"Perdue Wins Wager With Bush on Softball Title Game"
Gallery: WR Softball
"WR Wins Softball World Series"
OregonLive Sports
Here are some links:
"Girls Rule: WR Softball Team Wins World Series"
"Perdue Wins Wager With Bush on Softball Title Game"
Gallery: WR Softball
"WR Wins Softball World Series"
OregonLive Sports
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Southeast: The 2009 LLSBWS Champ!
Warner Robins American Little League (Georgia), representng the Southeast, needed only four innings to defeat Crawford Little League (Texas, representing the Southwest) in tonight's 2009 Little League Softball Championship, winning 14-2.
Georgia becomes the third champion in a row to come from the South (now named Southeast) region. The 2008 winner, South Carolina, followed the 2007 winner, Tennessee.
Georgia becomes the third champion in a row to come from the South (now named Southeast) region. The 2008 winner, South Carolina, followed the 2007 winner, Tennessee.
2009 LLSBWS: Final Day
Alpenrose is hopping all day with the final day of activities at the 2009 Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Oregon.
Games 23-26 determine consolation slots for the eight remaining teams. The 3rd place game takes place at noonPDT on the main field.
"Game 27"
This innocuous number represents The Championship. The 2009 Little League Softball World Series champion will be the winner of Game 27. Oh, and Game 27 will be televised live on ESPN2 at 4pmPDT.
Please note that due to contract restrictions, games telecast by ESPN2 cannot also be webcast. You can, however, follow the live scorebook on the internet on the softballworldseries.com website.
Closing Ceremonies
Immediately following tonight's championship, the 2009 LLSBWS will end with the Closing Ceremonies. All of the players will be invited back out onto the field to applause and a huge thanks from all those involved.
Tomorrow, everyone heads home and Alpenrose is cleaned up and readied for Fall Ball :)
Games 23-26 determine consolation slots for the eight remaining teams. The 3rd place game takes place at noonPDT on the main field.
"Game 27"
This innocuous number represents The Championship. The 2009 Little League Softball World Series champion will be the winner of Game 27. Oh, and Game 27 will be televised live on ESPN2 at 4pmPDT.
Please note that due to contract restrictions, games telecast by ESPN2 cannot also be webcast. You can, however, follow the live scorebook on the internet on the softballworldseries.com website.
Closing Ceremonies
Immediately following tonight's championship, the 2009 LLSBWS will end with the Closing Ceremonies. All of the players will be invited back out onto the field to applause and a huge thanks from all those involved.
Tomorrow, everyone heads home and Alpenrose is cleaned up and readied for Fall Ball :)
Wednesday Morning Links
The local Portland Oregonian put together a video that really captures the sights and sounds of the week at Alpenrose:
http://videos.oregonlive.com/oregonian/2009/08/little_league_softball_world_s.html
"Warner Robins Eager to Help Make History at Little League Softball World Series"
"Warner Robins Softball Team Reaches Final"
A Warner Robins Photo Gallery
"Slow Start Dooms Pioneers"
"Crawford Girls Storm into Little League Softball World Series Final"
"West Point Falls in National Semifinals"
http://videos.oregonlive.com/oregonian/2009/08/little_league_softball_world_s.html
"Warner Robins Eager to Help Make History at Little League Softball World Series"
"Warner Robins Softball Team Reaches Final"
A Warner Robins Photo Gallery
"Slow Start Dooms Pioneers"
"Crawford Girls Storm into Little League Softball World Series Final"
"West Point Falls in National Semifinals"
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Special Guests on Tuesday
2009 College World Series Champs University of Washington Huskies Ashley Charters and Morgan Stuart signing autographs at Alpenrose between semifinal games of the 2009 Little League Softball World Series. Ashley is also a member of Team USA and played in the 1998 LLSBWS with Murrayhill Little League.
Here is a clip from KGW-TV.
Here is a clip from KGW-TV.
Monday, August 17, 2009
2009 Semifinals Set
After tonight's thrilling final game of Pool Play, tomorrow's semifinal match-ups are now set:
Game 21
Southwest (Texas) vs. Central (Michigan)
4pm
ESPN2
Game 22
Southeast (Georgia) vs. East (Pennsylvania)
6:30pm
ESPN2
Congrats to all the teams!
Game 21
Southwest (Texas) vs. Central (Michigan)
4pm
ESPN2
Game 22
Southeast (Georgia) vs. East (Pennsylvania)
6:30pm
ESPN2
Congrats to all the teams!
Monday Morning Links + Schedule Notes
Some Links:
"Cros-Lex Rolls Again"
"Nunaka Loses to Italy; Plays Again Monday"
"WRALL Girls Defeat Italy"
"WRALL Softball Cruises Along"
"West Point Reaches Series Semifinal"
"LLSBWS: West Point Holds on for Victory"
Monday's Schedule
Game 17
Southeast (Georgia) vs. Asia-Pacific (Guam)
2pmPDT, Main Field
Game 18
Host/Oregon District 4 (Beaverton) vs. Canada (Ontario)
5pmPDT, Main Field
Game 19
Southwest (Texas) vs. Latin America (Curacao)
5:30pmPDT, East Field
Game 20
Central (Michigan) vs. West (Alaska)
8pmPDT, Main Field
Today's games conclude Pool Play for the 2009 Little League Softball World Series. After tonight's final game, the top two teams of each pool will meet with ESPN and tournament officials to go over tomorrow's semifinal games, broadcast live on ESPN2.
Tuesday, a Big Day
On Tuesday, the day begins with the All-Star Game at 10amPDT on the Main Field at Alpenrose. The All-Star game is a LLSBWS original: players from the six eliminated teams join together to play six innings with the managers in the stands :) A highlight every year, this fun game is played with official umpires and gives the girls a chance to mix and mingle, play ball, and do so without the managers and coaches directing!
All the teams then enjoy a huge barbeque hosted by the Cadonau family, owners and operators of Alpenrose Dairy, where the stadium and fields are located.
ESPN will set up during the day and the complex begins to change...Musco brings in more powerful lights (necessary for the nighttime broadcasts), the ESPN trucks and towers are operational and ESPN staff and commentators begin to roam the grounds.
The semifinal games are as followed:
Semifinal Game 21
Pool A #1 vs. Pool B #2
4pmPDT
Semifinal Game 22
Pool A #2 vs. Pool B #1
6:30pmPDT
"Cros-Lex Rolls Again"
"Nunaka Loses to Italy; Plays Again Monday"
"WRALL Girls Defeat Italy"
"WRALL Softball Cruises Along"
"West Point Reaches Series Semifinal"
"LLSBWS: West Point Holds on for Victory"
Monday's Schedule
Game 17
Southeast (Georgia) vs. Asia-Pacific (Guam)
2pmPDT, Main Field
Game 18
Host/Oregon District 4 (Beaverton) vs. Canada (Ontario)
5pmPDT, Main Field
Game 19
Southwest (Texas) vs. Latin America (Curacao)
5:30pmPDT, East Field
Game 20
Central (Michigan) vs. West (Alaska)
8pmPDT, Main Field
Today's games conclude Pool Play for the 2009 Little League Softball World Series. After tonight's final game, the top two teams of each pool will meet with ESPN and tournament officials to go over tomorrow's semifinal games, broadcast live on ESPN2.
Tuesday, a Big Day
On Tuesday, the day begins with the All-Star Game at 10amPDT on the Main Field at Alpenrose. The All-Star game is a LLSBWS original: players from the six eliminated teams join together to play six innings with the managers in the stands :) A highlight every year, this fun game is played with official umpires and gives the girls a chance to mix and mingle, play ball, and do so without the managers and coaches directing!
All the teams then enjoy a huge barbeque hosted by the Cadonau family, owners and operators of Alpenrose Dairy, where the stadium and fields are located.
ESPN will set up during the day and the complex begins to change...Musco brings in more powerful lights (necessary for the nighttime broadcasts), the ESPN trucks and towers are operational and ESPN staff and commentators begin to roam the grounds.
The semifinal games are as followed:
Semifinal Game 21
Pool A #1 vs. Pool B #2
4pmPDT
Semifinal Game 22
Pool A #2 vs. Pool B #1
6:30pmPDT
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Sunday Night Wrap-Up
The teams have played four days of Pool Play in the 2009 Little League Softball World Series, and many of the fun events are in the books, so the games finish early and staff and coaches are treated to an Oregon specialty back at the tournament hotel: barbequed salmon.
Here are the standings through Sunday:
Pool A
Southwest 3-0
East 3-1
Oregon District 4/Host 1-2
Latin America 1-2
Canada 0-3
Pool B
Southeast 3-0
Central 2-1
EMEA 2-2
West 1-2
Asia Pacific 0-3
Monday's games
Game 17: Southeast vs. Asia Pacific
Game 18: ORD4 vs. Canada
Game 19: Southwest vs. Latin America
Game 20: Central vs. West
Here are the standings through Sunday:
Pool A
Southwest 3-0
East 3-1
Oregon District 4/Host 1-2
Latin America 1-2
Canada 0-3
Pool B
Southeast 3-0
Central 2-1
EMEA 2-2
West 1-2
Asia Pacific 0-3
Monday's games
Game 17: Southeast vs. Asia Pacific
Game 18: ORD4 vs. Canada
Game 19: Southwest vs. Latin America
Game 20: Central vs. West
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Saturday's Schedule + Links
After two days of play, the 2009 Little League Softball World Series offers great Saturday actvities along with Pool Play:
9:45amPDT: East Field, Game 9
Southwest (Texas) vs. East (Pennsylvania)
Southwest had a bye yesterday after defeating Oregon on Thursday night, and returns to action against a 2-0 East team.
10amPDT: Main Field, Game 10
West (Alaska) vs. EMEA (Italy)
Both teams are 1-1 in Pool B.
12:15pmPDT: East Field, Game 11
Canada (Ontario) vs. Latin America (Curacao)
Latin America lost in last night's extra-inning thriller to Oregon -- both teams are looking for their first win.
12:30pmPDT: Main Field, Game 12
Central (Michigan) vs. Southeast (Georgia)
Both teams are 1-0 and have already had their bye days.
It is also an exciting day of activities at Alpenrose:
Noon, PDT: Challenger Game
World Series players will join local Challenger Team kids on the West field for a fun game of softball.
3:30pm, PDT: Schutt Skills Challenge and Home Run Derby
Fans and players alike can participate in the Home Run Derby, but the Skills Challenge highlights players from each team competing in running, hitting and throwing contests as their teammates and fans cheer them on.
Catching up on some media coverage...
"Cros-Lex Makes Short Work of Foe"
"Nunaka Romps at Softball World Series"
"History Makers" (Alaska)
"Softball All-Stars Take It Easy" (Georgia)
"West Point Shows Little Mercy in Win" (Pennsylvania)
Portland Oregonian
Saturday's Article
9:45amPDT: East Field, Game 9
Southwest (Texas) vs. East (Pennsylvania)
Southwest had a bye yesterday after defeating Oregon on Thursday night, and returns to action against a 2-0 East team.
10amPDT: Main Field, Game 10
West (Alaska) vs. EMEA (Italy)
Both teams are 1-1 in Pool B.
12:15pmPDT: East Field, Game 11
Canada (Ontario) vs. Latin America (Curacao)
Latin America lost in last night's extra-inning thriller to Oregon -- both teams are looking for their first win.
12:30pmPDT: Main Field, Game 12
Central (Michigan) vs. Southeast (Georgia)
Both teams are 1-0 and have already had their bye days.
It is also an exciting day of activities at Alpenrose:
Noon, PDT: Challenger Game
World Series players will join local Challenger Team kids on the West field for a fun game of softball.
3:30pm, PDT: Schutt Skills Challenge and Home Run Derby
Fans and players alike can participate in the Home Run Derby, but the Skills Challenge highlights players from each team competing in running, hitting and throwing contests as their teammates and fans cheer them on.
Catching up on some media coverage...
"Cros-Lex Makes Short Work of Foe"
"Nunaka Romps at Softball World Series"
"History Makers" (Alaska)
"Softball All-Stars Take It Easy" (Georgia)
"West Point Shows Little Mercy in Win" (Pennsylvania)
Portland Oregonian
Saturday's Article
Friday, August 14, 2009
Sights and Sounds at Alpenrose
We woke up yesterday to the news that the IOC would not be reinstating softball to the 2016 Olympics. I spent the day enjoying the sights and sounds of great softball and friendship and media and Frosted Flakes and host families and beautiful languages and kids having fun. There is hope and a future for these young athletes, it just might not be the Olympics.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
2009 LLSBWS: A Fan Guide
There is so much information and ways to follow the 2009 Little League Softball World Series, both here in Portland or online around the world, that I thought I would provide some tips:
Some General Info
The ten teams are divided into two pools; pool play begins today and continues through Monday. Each team will play the others one time with a bye day thrown in...
All the teams are mixed together, unlike the LL Baseball WS where there is an international winner and a U.S. winner.
At the end of pool play, the top two teams will play in the semifinals on ESPN2 on Tuesday.
Complete schedules and bracket info can be found here.
Following Online
The volunteer staff is able to televise only the games taking place on the main field at Alpenrose. You can watch FOR FREE via webcast. Go to the Brackets page and click on the game you are interested in. A screen will pop up: click on "Video Webcast."
You can also follow LIVE SCORING. What is that? Real-time scoring -- all the games use electronic scorebooks that are uploaded to the website. Here is the page for Game 1, East vs. Latin America: http://www.softballworldseries.com/photos2009/photos01.htm As each game is played, you can watch the webcast and/or the live scoring. Pictures will be taken during the game and posted on that page, also.
Twitter and/or Textmark
I will do my best to provide updates via text if you sign up for either Twitter or Textmarks. I Tweeted from a Regional Babe Ruth tournament last week and the hometown parents were very grateful, so I am getting the hang of it :)
Sign up for either on the right-hand column of this blog. Twitter will be updated more often and is very simple to use. I will continue to update both, but am starting to prefer Twitter.
In-Person
If you are in the area, and can make time to visit Alpenrose this week, you will not be disappointed... The all-volunteer crew does an amazing job!
The event is (always!) free of charge. The site is very family friendly and the games filled with competition and music and fans from all over the world. This Saturday you can enjoy the Schutt Skills Competition, Home Run Derby and Challenger game.
As we get closer to the championship, you can view a working ESPN broadcast, "up-close and personal," which is both educational and fun.
A barbeque is always going with better-than average choices and of course, lots of Baskin-Robbins ice cream, which is produced by Alpenrose Dairy in our area. Oh yeah, it is a working dairy (and smells like it, too, on some days :) and there is a bicycle velodrome and midget-car track.
Alpenrose is located on SW Shattuck Road, between SW Vermont and SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy.
Come on down, it is a week-long celebration of softball, sportsmanship, culture, and kids.
Some General Info
The ten teams are divided into two pools; pool play begins today and continues through Monday. Each team will play the others one time with a bye day thrown in...
All the teams are mixed together, unlike the LL Baseball WS where there is an international winner and a U.S. winner.
At the end of pool play, the top two teams will play in the semifinals on ESPN2 on Tuesday.
Complete schedules and bracket info can be found here.
Following Online
The volunteer staff is able to televise only the games taking place on the main field at Alpenrose. You can watch FOR FREE via webcast. Go to the Brackets page and click on the game you are interested in. A screen will pop up: click on "Video Webcast."
You can also follow LIVE SCORING. What is that? Real-time scoring -- all the games use electronic scorebooks that are uploaded to the website. Here is the page for Game 1, East vs. Latin America: http://www.softballworldseries.com/photos2009/photos01.htm As each game is played, you can watch the webcast and/or the live scoring. Pictures will be taken during the game and posted on that page, also.
Twitter and/or Textmark
I will do my best to provide updates via text if you sign up for either Twitter or Textmarks. I Tweeted from a Regional Babe Ruth tournament last week and the hometown parents were very grateful, so I am getting the hang of it :)
Sign up for either on the right-hand column of this blog. Twitter will be updated more often and is very simple to use. I will continue to update both, but am starting to prefer Twitter.
In-Person
If you are in the area, and can make time to visit Alpenrose this week, you will not be disappointed... The all-volunteer crew does an amazing job!
The event is (always!) free of charge. The site is very family friendly and the games filled with competition and music and fans from all over the world. This Saturday you can enjoy the Schutt Skills Competition, Home Run Derby and Challenger game.
As we get closer to the championship, you can view a working ESPN broadcast, "up-close and personal," which is both educational and fun.
A barbeque is always going with better-than average choices and of course, lots of Baskin-Robbins ice cream, which is produced by Alpenrose Dairy in our area. Oh yeah, it is a working dairy (and smells like it, too, on some days :) and there is a bicycle velodrome and midget-car track.
Alpenrose is located on SW Shattuck Road, between SW Vermont and SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy.
Come on down, it is a week-long celebration of softball, sportsmanship, culture, and kids.
Thursday Morning Links
Featuring the Central Team (Croswell-Lexington LL, Croswell, Michigan):
"Pioneers eager to play:
Ceremonies kick off World Series"
"Every Competitor Has a Story"
"Former Player Pulling for Little Leaguers"
Featuring Southwest (Crawford LL, Crawford, Texas):
Crawford Little League Softball Ready for World Series
Featuring West (Nunaka Valley LL, Anchorage, Alaska):
"Nunaka Valley Team is at World Series"
Featuring Southeast (Warner Robins American LL, Warner Robins, Georgia)
"WR Girls Begin Play Thursday in World Series"
"Warner Robins Softball Team Ready to Go"
Featuring East (West Point LL, Greensburg, Pennsylvania)
"West Point's Experience Goes Beyond Softball"
And from Portland area media:
"Softball World Series: Host Family Program a Hit--Now and Later"
"Ready to Rock at the Little League World Series"
"Pioneers eager to play:
Ceremonies kick off World Series"
"Every Competitor Has a Story"
"Former Player Pulling for Little Leaguers"
Featuring Southwest (Crawford LL, Crawford, Texas):
Crawford Little League Softball Ready for World Series
Featuring West (Nunaka Valley LL, Anchorage, Alaska):
"Nunaka Valley Team is at World Series"
Featuring Southeast (Warner Robins American LL, Warner Robins, Georgia)
"WR Girls Begin Play Thursday in World Series"
"Warner Robins Softball Team Ready to Go"
Featuring East (West Point LL, Greensburg, Pennsylvania)
"West Point's Experience Goes Beyond Softball"
And from Portland area media:
"Softball World Series: Host Family Program a Hit--Now and Later"
"Ready to Rock at the Little League World Series"
Seen At Alpenrose
Some last-minute field prep, exchanging autographs, and showing off their new Schutt helmets:
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