Wei-Lani Likiaksa gets ready to catch the ball and apply the tag to this Cubs’ player caught in a run down.
A great summer for baseball has come to an end. We had great summer weather for baseball except for T-ball and everyone had a great time. T-ball players and parents are good sports
T-ball plays on Monday nights and they had to cancel four games this summer due to rain. Three of those rainouts were on consecutive Mondays. However, coaches, parents, and players did the best they could adjusting their schedules so that they could play as many games as possible.
T-ball is a great game for young kids to learn the basic skills it takes to play baseball, and it leads to lots of smiles on the field, all summer long. Our five teams found a way to get five or six games in this summer and I know the players loved it. Parent Pitch
Our other two leagues recently concluded their seasons with several exciting playoff games. In parent pitch we had four teams that all play in a single elimination playoff.
Left: With a smile lighting up his face, Waylon practices throwing and playing catch before a T-ball game. Above: Will she be the next Mo’ne Davis? Who knows, but Grace is showing good form in this Parent Pitch game and she’s got a couple of years to grow her game.
The first place Wild Fire played the Lions in the first playoff game. The Lions put forth great effort, but were unable to stop the Wild Fire. The Wild Fire moved on to the championship game.
The other playoff game featured the Yankees and Lumberjacks. The Lumberjacks were the higher seed, but that didn’t matter to the Yankees, they jumped to a 10-run lead. Somehow the Lumberjacks came back and tied the game, which forced the game into extra innings. The Lumberjacks won that inning and the game and advanced into the finals. I have to admit that I am biased because I have been the coach of the Lumberjacks for the last three years, but that was the best parent pitch game I have seen. Both teams played so well it validates all the hard work that coaches and parents put in during the season.
The Wild Fire played very well in the championship game, but the Lumberjacks rode the momentum of their last game to victory. The Lumberjacks took first place after placing second for the last three seasons.
All four teams this season improved their skills and had lots of fun. That happens because we have great parents that volunteer their time as coaches. Thank you coaches and parents for all the time you put in all summer long.
The Little League playoffs played out just like the regular season. All three teams were very evenly matched. The Twins had the best regular season record so they advanced right into the championship game. That left the Dodgers and Cubs fighting it out for the right to join them in the championship game.
Pitching in the playoff game was great, but for both teams hitting was the story of the game. The Cubs jumped out to the lead and stayed there until the top of the 5th inning. In the top of the 5th the Dodgers took a four run lead and looked like they would be moving on in the playoffs. The Cubs however were not done. They drove in 8 runs in the bottom of the inning and took that lead into the Dodgers last at bat. Two runs were scored in the top of the sixth, but that was not enough for the Dodgers. The Cubs moved on to the championship game.
Sliding hard into second, Keewatin Pierre was safe as an expressive Tate Crawford catches the ball during the Little League championship game.
In the championship game good defensive plays, timely batting, smart base running, and great pitching were all part of one of the best-played games of the season. Good hitting by the Twins helped put them in front 5 – 2, and great pitching by both teams made sure it stayed that way for most of the game. A three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth for the Twins put the game out of reach. The Cubs rallied in the top of the 6th, but they came up short and the Twins were crowned the 2015 Little League champions.
All three teams worked very hard all summer long and it showed in the playoffs. The Twins deserved to win, but either one of the other teams could have won if the ball would have bounced their way.
As in all our leagues, parents and volunteer coaches are the reason we have games for our children to enjoy. They make it possible for our kids to have fun while developing their baseball skills. Thank you coaches for putting the kids first in everything you did this summer. Moms and dads, keep playing catch with your children and we’ll see you all next summer for another great season of baseball.
Staff photos/Rhonda Silence Left: John Henneman instructs this little tyke on how to hit a ball off a Tee. A few seconds later the ball flew off the bat. Above: Parent Pitch runner Myya put on the afterburners and ran like “Wildfire” to first base.
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