I wont poo poo the excitement, but the bolded statement says a lot......Has anyone ever been there? My oldest grandson's LL team has qualified, as the other team in the district has backed out. They will be there in late July. Does anyone have any experiences with it?
Sadly, that is an issue facing Little League...but it is also a strength. You play with the hand you are dealt and injuries/vacations can derail a community's playoffs. There are no "substitute" ace pitchers that can be brought in. Communities play the games when they are scheduled, not when it is convenient. A team that has won the right to advance may suddenly find out that they cannot play on the scheduled date and will give up their spot.I wont poo poo the excitement, but the bolded statement says a lot......
DISAGREE. Most don't even participate in said tournament and I dont hold that in any higher regard then most of the weekend tourneys you see at Berliner or around the state.Sadly, that is an issue facing Little League...but it is also a strength. You play with the hand you are dealt and injuries/vacations can derail a community's playoffs. There are no "substitute" ace pitchers that can be brought in. Communities play the games when they are scheduled, not when it is convenient. A team that has won the right to advance may suddenly find out that they cannot play on the scheduled date and will give up their spot.
I know there are a few leagues similar to Little League when it comes to playing to advance and limiting rosters. But it is a dying breed. People want more freedom and less struggles for their kids. IMO, the two most important championships for Ohio baseball teams are the 12 year old Little League World Series and the OHSAA Baseball State Championship. Both require a community and winning to advance to the next round.
I know that most people won't agree, especially if they don't participate. But my view comes from participating in all those weekend tournaments around the state and not remembering the name of any of them. My son played in the 12U LL tournament twice and never got out of districts. It is a great achievement to move onto the next round from District, State, Regionals, and World Series. Tournaments that require you to win at one level to make the next level are far more interesting to me.DISAGREE. Most don't even participate in said tournament and I dont hold that in any higher regard then most of the weekend tourneys you see at Berliner or around the state.
Maybe I need to get out of my little corner of the world but I know from talking to many baseball coaches/fans over the years that they followed the Little League World Series even though they didn't live in a Little League district. It is arguably the most recognizable youth sporting event in the World (maybe soccer has an equivalent us Americans don't know about). My son is 10 years out of Little League and I still look forward to watching the games on ESPN and ABC in August. I've never gone to Williamsport to watch the games but it is on the bucket list. A few years back they had 40,000 people in person watching 12 year olds play the game we all love. IMO, it is a very big deal.Little League does have the name recognition, no doubt about that and I am sure it is big deal for teams who go there and participate but other that those teams involved no one really, um, knows or cares.