“JLWS NOTEBOOK: Hurry back, Taiwan fans!” |
| JLWS NOTEBOOK: Hurry back, Taiwan fans! Posted: 25 Aug 2010 11:05 AM PDT
The Junior League World Series grounds crew did a fantastic job getting the infield into playing shape after hours of rain Saturday. Please, please, please, Taiwan, come back. Your players clearly deserved to win the Junior League World Series last weekend with a combination of strong pitching, clutch hitting and a dedication to small ball, but your fans stole the show. They came in droves every time the boys played and reminded us more of a soccer crowd. The flags of your country and Little League organization waved constantly. Gongs clattered after base hits, strikeouts and runs. A horn section played everything from "Rule Britannia" to the "Popeye" theme song. There was a dragon dance after your boys clinched the championship Saturday night. As far as anyone could tell, it was the first dragon dance in the history of the World Series. And the cheers and chants — these fans cheered for everything — kept a sense of energy in the ballpark throughout Saturday's championship game. I'm sure the runners-up from Tyler, Texas, were disappointed, but a few days or weeks from now, I'd like to think they'll consider themselves lucky to have played in such a great environment. Not many kids get that kind of chance. It took 30 years for Taiwan, which used to rule the Little League World Series, to make it to Taylor. I really hope it doesn't take that long for the team — and, just as important, its fans — to come back. Cultural interaction is one of the best fringe benefits of any international competition or event and the folks from Taiwan made a lot of people's week in Taylor a little bit richer. Thanks! And hurry back. Most valuable players Texas and Taiwan fans could agree on one thing: The JLWS grounds crew was Saturday's best performing team. The day's persistent rain finally let up around 4:40 p..m. at which time the crew went to work. After rolling as much water off the infield as they could, workers set to spreading myriad bags of new dirt and drying compound. Several parts of the field, especially near the bases and plate, looked like soupy messes, but the crew worked fast enough to allow players to take the field at 6:31 to warm up. The first pitch hit the Texas catcher's glove 16 minutes later. Head groundskeeper Phil Garrett had plenty of help throughout the day. Here they are: Duane Bobruk, Brian Hodges, Tanner Hodges, Ryan Bobruk, Adam Haiduc, Mario Sespen, Nick Taylor, Kyle Roberts, Klayton Williams, Chris DeLong, Brian Bobruk, Tyler Chwastek, Dustin Taylor, Joseph Taylor, Dillon Garrett, Joe Taylor, Justin Nester, Aaron Asrouche, Greg Kozicki, Jason Suiter and Brad Roberts. On behalf of everyone who watched you work: You did great a great job, guys. Home Run Derby Anthony Yaccarine of the USA East regional champions from New Jersey won the annual Best Buy Home Run Derby on Saturday during the Junior League World Series in Heritage Park. Yaccarine hit home runs on four out of the five swings that each batter takes. Finishing second was Drew Ellis of Central champion Indiana. He broke a tie with third-place Cesar Torres of West champ California. The top three received trophies and DVD players, movies and other prizes from Best Buy. Umpire of the Year Harvey Waldron of Santa Ana, California, is this year's recipient of the Chuck McAllister Umpire Award. McAllister was the first director of umpires for the JLWS. He served in that capacity until his sudden death in the winter of 1999. In his memory each year, one member of the crew who best exemplifies the qualities and characteristics of McAllister is selected. Waldron has more than 25 years of Little League baseball umpire experience and is currently umpire in chief for District 30 and an instructor at the Western region. He umpired the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in 2003. JLWS Director of Umpires called Waldron the "true epitome of the Little League volunteer." Memories of Taylor ESPN2 broadcasters Al Pawlowski and Eduardo Perez conducted routine interviews Saturday morning with the players and coaching staffs of both teams. When the Chinese Taipei players were asked about the most memorable things about their trip to Taylor, they said 1) the steak at Texas Roadhouse in Taylor, 2) throwing peanut shells on the floor at the restaurant and 3) girls. Asked about the playing surface, the manager said World Series Field at Heritage Park was the best field they played on throughout their World Series run. He said that the thousands of people in attendance were the biggest crowds they had played in front of. The manager also said that the game would be shown live in Taiwan at 4 a.m. He said there were 23 million people in Taiwan and 80 percent of the population would be watching. In the end, the nearly three-hour rain delay caused the game to be broadcast on the Internet site ESPN3. The game will be rebroadcast on a date to be determined – probably next week. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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