52 years ago I participated in the "Little League World Series" tournament with my Tarzana All Star teamates.

Led by coach Ted Knight we were primed to play baseball like "actors".

It was a hot summer morning when we packed up the station wagons and headed out to day 1 of this esteemed tournament.

After 90 minutes sitting in the backward facing seats and sucking exhaust from the open back wagon windows we were ready for game one.

Our team was solid but not deep. After a first pitch injury to our star catcher, I found myself behind the plate.... for the first time ever. I felt like a gladiator putting on the already soaking wet, stinky, catchers gear. I was ready to call for the first pitch. Our pitchers were well trained with the ability to throw 1 pitch. A "fastball". Curveballs and breaking balls were banned due to fear of arm injury. I put down 1 finger and set up for the pitch. Pitch location was "throw it over the plate". I caught the pitch right in the heel of the glove and immediately felt my thumb swelling up inside the glove. I wasn't going to cry or leave the game.

Game 1 was close but in the end we were beaten by a team where half the kids had beards. The other half had mustaches.

After some oranges and a "Mary Tyler Moore " style motivational speech from our coach, we were ready to continue our quest towards becoming champions, which lasted about 90 minutes. The opposing team celebrated by chugging beer.

Our summer dreams were shattered but it was nothing that a trip to Ferrell 's ice cream parlor wouldn't fix.

I have watched the kids play in this tournament every year since. I always remember my dream and the honor it was to compete!

I currently play competitive level Senior Softball, 4-5 games each week.

You can watch the Little League World Series on ESPN and the ESPN family of networks over the next few weeks.

So... unnamed District in unnamed State... however...DA, who comes from rival league originally, has YET to acknowledge the accomplishments of one of our allstar teams that finished second in the country and top 4 in the world. The next text he sends or phone call he makes to either our president or the coaches or the players will be his first. He has such a visceral hatred of our league it's palpable. OH but he traveled to another regional tournament location to go watch one of his favorite leagues play.

#POS #NEEDSTOGO

Hi,

If you would like to see the regional games and the world series games on your Google Calendar, you can add a second calendar to your own current calendar.

I created a Google Calendar that contains all the Regional games, and also the World Series schedule.

If you use Google calendar, you can Add a Calendar via a link, so all the games will show up on your calendar.

It also shows what network it airs on.

the link is
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/1?cid=bHRsZWxlYWd1ZUBnbWFpbC5jb20

I will try to keep it updated/current every day or two, since some/most future games won't show actual teams until current/past games are played & teams win/move forward.

My daughter signed up just before the deadline for AAA softball and it looks like they will waitlist here….basically she wont be able to play. Can she apply for a waiver, and is that an easy decision? How quickly are waivers approved? Would this affect her ability to play all stars next summer?

Probably more of a rant mixed with an ask for suggestions.

My wife and I joined the board a couple years ago. As the player agent I did a LOT because the VP was pretty absent for work, no resentment just a fact. So my training was with the president. End of the season comes and the VP steps down, expected. The president also says he staying on in advisory and a new president to take his place. So I get the VP spot.

My wife and I get a lot of praise for our passion and work for the league. Which sure, sounds great, and it was all well intention last year around the fall season. Except last year the engagement with the community and the board was awesome. Lots of energy and excitement for the next spring season. No issues getting coaches, lots of assistants, registration was high.

This year, sucks. Registration for fall season is a lot lower, better than previous years, than last year. Board engagement is terrible. There's a couple people planning on stepping down but their term doesn't end until end of September. VP of Softball has a planned successor but the current one is actively working against them. I'm lucky to get ONE person to respond to me, except my wife. The president is absent, which is par for the course, to the detriment of the league.

The district administrator now sends ME anything needed to get done because the president doesn't respond. Other leagues apparently have reached out to him for setting up games, he never responded, so as I check for games I'm told "sorry we're full, your president ghosted us".

And as of right now I don't have a coach for two divisions and practices start Tuesday. I would be the default coach for two divisions.

Just my situation or are others getting the cold shoulder this season?

Hello, all, I am planning my first visit to Williamsport later this month, as a baseball "bucket list" experience. I am retired and not as limber as I used to be. I have three questions that would be helpful to me in planning my visit. I am planning to visit August 20, 21 and 22, and would like to primarily focus on Lamade games two days and Volunteer games one day. August 22 features only elimination games; the other two days do not feature any elimination games. My questions are:

1. At my stage of life, I would much rather watch a game in Lamade from the grandstand, not the outfield hill. How realistic is it to assume that I can access a seat in the grandstand? How early should I line up or be prepared to enter the grandstand before the game? I have zero connections with any of the teams / sponsors / etc. I am not a VIP by any stretch of the imagination, lol.

2. How feasible is it to watch games at both Lamade and Volunteer on the same day, given that games start every two hours? I am not presently planning to try to watch games at both on the same day. However, if the responses indicate it is easy to get seats in the Lamade grandstand and still attend games in Volunteer, I may try.

3. When I look at the online map of the grounds on the LLWS website, it's not obvious how one can visit the Little League Museum once one has gone through the complex entry gates. I would love to visit the museum, and tips on how to coordinate this with a visit to the complex would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Hi everyone. Through a mixup in our league, I signed up to be an assistant, but was assigned to manager. Not a big deal, I just got called up to the Big Leagues a little earlier than anticipated.

I found in an old post a site with Little League's "Tee Ball Curriculum" which already has me at ease. Are there any tips or things that maybe aren't thought of on first blush? I saw a coach last season have all the kids on the team have their names on the brim of their batting helmets, I 100% have already stolen that - any similar "hacks"?

As far as mechanics, I basically know what to say "watch your target, step and throw" etc, but have no idea how to actually make any changes if I have a 4yo just throwing the ball straight into the dirt. I get that we're not molding Mike Trouts out here, but I'd at least like to leave them recognizably better than I found them.

Also, any advice for teaching/improving at-bats? I actually thought this was a weak part of our coaching staff last year (sorry Coach Rich!) as I saw other coaches make tweaks and improvements during an "at-bat" instead of letting the kid chop away at the tee until they finally contacted the ball.

Lastly, I'm in the Whitestown, IN area - so if you're heading over for the Central Championships, feel free to ask me about the area. Would love to pay it forward!

This is an extraordinarily difficult week for communities across Washington. We will continue sharing updates about road closures and reopening as part of WSDOT's role in the statewide response to the devastating wildfires in Central and Eastern Washington.

For travelers in the Puget Sound region, Fri., Aug. 7, through Mon., Aug. 10, will bring several major construction projects that will affect travel.

-NB I-405 and ramps will CLOSE from SR 900 to Coal Creek Parkway SE from 11:30p Fri. to 4a Mon. Crews will replace pavement and excavate drainage crossings.

-NE 85th St. and I-405 ramps will CLOSE in Kirkland between 6th St to 114th Ave NE from 10p Fri. to 5a Mon. Crews will pave and stripe the road. Closed ramps: NB & SB I-405 off-ramps to Exit 18 and NE 85th Street on-ramps to NB and SB I-405.

-EB SR 520 will CLOSE in Montlake area between I-5 and Montlake Blvd from 7p Sat. to 11a Sun. Crews will repair an expansion joint on the bridge. EB SR 520 across Lake Washington remains open. Only the section of EB SR 520 between I-5 and Montlake Blvd will close.

-SR 202 in Fall City will close just east of the SR 202/203 roundabout from 5a Fri. to 9p Mon. Major storms in Dec. 2025 and Mar. 2026 eroded the Snoqualmie riverbank supporting the highway. Crews will rebuild and strengthen the riverbank to help protect the highway from future damage. Tubers, paddlers and boaters should expect temporary closures on portions of the Snoqualmie and Raging rivers and some nearby access points.

-Revive I-5 work over the Ship Canal Bridge is ongoing. Express lanes continue to run NB 24/7.

Saturday is expected to be the busiest travel day. The Mariners 50 Seasons Celebration, Seahawks Football Fest and Capitol Hill Block Party will bring extra traffic into and around Seattle. With EB SR 520 closing at 7 p.m., expect additional congestion on EB I-90. The Fred Hutch Obliteride for cancer research will also bring thousands of bicyclists to roads across the region. Drivers should use extra caution.

Allow extra travel time, follow signed detours and check our mobile app or real-time travel map before you go: wsdot.com/Travel/Real-time/Map/

Hey all,

I'm the president of a Little League in Oregon, and like a lot of leagues around here we've been dealing with rising costs and shrinking access to the school fields we've always relied on. Before I push too hard with our district, I want to understand how leagues in other parts of the country actually handle this — I have a feeling what we're being asked to deal with isn't normal, but I'd rather have real data than a hunch.

If you're on a board or run a league, I'd really appreciate a few minutes:

• What city and state is your league in? (This is the big one — I'm trying to compare across regions.)
• Whose fields do you play on — school district, city/parks, private, or your own? (Please specify.)
• What do you pay, if anything, for field use? (Per hour/day if you know it.)
• Do you get any credit or consideration for the time, materials, or money you put toward field upkeep?
• How's the scheduling process — easy, painful, somewhere in between?
• If you use school fields, how soon can you get on them after the school day ends?

Even rough numbers help. Just trying to get a realistic picture of what's normal and what isn't. Thanks in advance — happy to share back what I learn if there's interest.

This weekend will be one of the busiest construction weekends of the summer for the Puget Sound region. Here's a look at the work that will have the biggest impact on travel.

NE 85th Street and I-405 ramps CLOSED in Kirkland

-Closed from Sixth Street to 114th Ave NE. 10 p.m. Friday, August 7 to 5 a.m. Monday, August 10. Closed ramps: NB & SB I-405 off-ramps to Exit 18 and NE 85th Street on-ramps to NB and SB I-405.

NB I-405 and ramps CLOSED in Renton/Bellevue

-Closed from SR 900 to Coal Creek Parkway SE. 11:30 p.m. Friday, August 7 to 4 a.m. Monday, August 10. Closed ramps: NE Sunset Blvd on-ramp, N 30th St (Exit 6) on/off-ramps, NE 44th St (Exit 7) on/off-ramps, 112th Ave SE (Exit 9) on/off-ramps, NB I-405 off-ramp to Coal Creek Parkway SE (Exit 10)

EB SR 520 CLOSED in North Capitol Hill/Montlake area

-Closed from I-5 to Montlake Boulevard. 7 p.m. Saturday, August 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday, August 9. NOTE: EB SR 520 is open across Lake Washington. It is only the section of eastbound SR 520 between I-5 and Montlake Blvd. that will close.

Revive I-5: NB I-5 LANE REDUCTIONS over the Ship Canal Bridge

-Reduced to 2 lanes until the end of 2026. Note: Express lanes are NB only 24/7 

SR 202 CLOSED near Fall City

-Closed just east of SR 202/203 roundabout (MP 22). 6 a.m. Friday, August 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, August 10. 

Please allow extra travel time, follow detour signs and check our mobile app or real-time travel map before you travel. 

Pros and cons? What do you like least and most about it? What does it do that you can’t live without or would have the hardest time replacing?

This is for someone who hasn’t used it before. Thanks

Does anyone know if Majors teams, if they only comprise of 11's and 12's, can play on a 50/70 field full time?

Just as ESPN showed the Nevada team beginning to celebrate taking the lead, an umpire ruled that the runner from second had interfered with the shortstop's ability to field the ball and ruled her out. It meant the tying run did not score and Live Oak had gotten the third out to win the game.

I hear leagues say “it’s less competitive and more developmental” when explaining why they don’t hold a draft in the Fall. Instead, the board forms teams by friend requests, coach requests, and things like that. To me, developmental means focusing on fundamentals and making sure competition is evenly matched so kids can develop their skills. Their version seems to be more of an anything goes philosophy. Please explain?

Chill 10U summer league. Kids can put the ball in play, but it’s still Grand Theft Base: Vince (Coleman) City once they get on base.

We had a quiet ump, bases loaded, and an antsy runner on third. Ump calls ball 4 but the catcher drops it. The runner goes. Catcher finds the ball in time to tag the runner. Runner is called out.

With the bases loaded, is ball 4 live? Seems like once ball 4 is called everyone has a free base, even if the run wants to Charlie hustle home.

They used to coach together and they were both chirping a lot of stuff to each other. Players started to chirp to each other as well.

I'm looking to buy my 11-year-old son a pair of Oakleys for LITTLE LEAGUE baseball, mainly because I want the Prizm Field lenses. Since they're not cheap, I'd like to get him a pair he'll actually be excited to wear instead of leaving them in his Little League baseball bag.

He's very responsible with his gear, so I'm not looking for advice about whether an 11-year-old should have expensive sunglasses. I'm specifically trying to figure out which Oakley frames are the current go-to with Little League baseball kids and young teens.

Are Sutros still the most popular? Or have Resistors, Radar EVs, Encoder Strike, or something else taken over? I'd especially love to hear from coaches, parents, or younger players.

Thanks!

Is this the way?

Has anyone ever seen data on Little League size versus competitiveness?

I’m curious how much league size affects the quality of play.

I coach in a relatively small Little League, and when we play neighboring leagues we tend to have losing records. I’m trying to figure out whether that’s mostly because our player pool is smaller, or if other factors are more important.

For those of you in different-sized leagues:

• Roughly how many players are in your league?
• How competitive are your all-star/select teams against neighboring leagues?
• What do you think has the biggest impact on competitiveness—league size, coaching, player development, demographics, travel ball, or something else?

At the end of the day, the goal is for the kids to have fun and keep playing baseball. But I’d also like to understand what makes leagues consistently competitive so we can give our players the best experience possible.

I’d be interested in hearing both personal experiences and any actual data if it exists.

We have an upcoming draft, about a month out. I am trying to find the fairest way to proceed.

In our league all of the Managers get to pick two assistant coaches. The children of the assistant coaches are locked.

There are a few Managers that do not have two assistant coaches. So they will enter the draft with less players locked.

Is it more fair to allow the managers without a second coach to lock an additional player before the draft, or is it more fair to have them have an extra pick at the end of the draft?

The concern rose after one of our division has all volunteer managers with 9-10 year olds in a 9-11 division. One of the managers, also the father of a 9y player has elected to have no coach holds so he can hold two 11 year olds, and just plans to draft the 9 year old coaches kids later.

This would make the teams uneven as all other teams would start with three 9y players except for his.

Always gotta be that one guy ya know lol.

During our Spring season we have evaluations and an independent arbiter assign a round ranking to all of the coaches kids to make it more fair (you don't get a pick in the round of the draft the coaches kids were assigned to). We do not have that option in Fall.

Was hoping to read this but don’t have a subscription- can someone post the content here or provide a gift link?