Chula Vista Puts On a Show at the Little League World Series But Who Will Make it to the Finals? (2009)

Little League World Series:  Already Picking the Two Finalists After Just One Game!? (2009)

                Just earlier today we saw the second day of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa, with the rest of the teams playing their first game for those who did not get a game in on Opening Day. 

The night was lit up by home runs in the West vs Great Lakes night game.  Chula Vista, Ca had rumors of power hitters, but tonight was enough proof for anybody to start talking about the West.  6’ 212lb 13 year old, Luke Ramirez, turned plenty of heads with his major league type swing and power.  He blasted two monster home runs against Great Lakes to lead his team to victory.

Ramirez’s powerful night was not all the showing for Chula Vista, as pitcher Kiko Garcia also helped out his own cause with a blast over the fence.  Garcia was playing awesome baseball on both sides of the ball.  He struck out 5 of his first 7 outs and was hitting 68mph consistently.  I remind you, the mound is much closer in little league than in the majors (48’ as opposed to 60’).  A 68mph fastball is equivalent to a 90mph fastball in the major leagues, as far as the reaction time.  Ramirez is expected to pitch tomorow afternoon against Massachusetts and rumor has it he averages in the 74mph range which is quivelent to a 98mph fastball in the Major Leagues.  I do not know about you, but I faced pitchers who threw in the low 90's and I was scared, simply because you have so little reaction time and you have to ALMOST make up your mind if you are going to swing before he pitches.  Can you imagine what these 11 and 12 year olds have face?

On another note, Ramirez brings back memories of former Little League World Series player, Danny Almonte (2001), if you recognize the name, which I know some do.  Almonte was a phenom from the Bronx and was leading his team to stardom as he pitched the first perfect game in Little Leage World Series history since 1957, and struck out 62 of 72 batters faced, allowed only 3 hits in 3 starts and was dominating kids "supposably" his age.  However, he was a product of the Dominican Republic's age change scandel and was found out to be 2 years older than elligable for the Little League World Series just a few weeks after the series ended.  Only one can imagine a 6' tall player, who is blasting bombs and setting Little League World Series records in his 212lb frame and 14 size shoes.  There are no allogations as to Ramirez's age, and by no means am I saying he is lieing about his age, just stating this brings back memories.

I never thought I would see a power hitting little league team.  I mean we are talking about 11 and 12 year olds, with the exception of those few 13 year olds that qualify because of their birth date.  Normal field dimensions for little league are 200’ or 205’, however in the World Series they play on a larger field of 225’ because the league is encouraging “small ball” style ball and not the long ball.  I am not so sure I agree with this idea, because a home run is part of the game.  We are talking about little leaguers who mostly do not hit home runs, so it is virtually ineffective, right?

With the exception of Chula Vista, it seems ineffective.  Chula Vista’s team has blasted a huge number of homeruns in their run to the World Series, including Ramirez’s 2 HR, the team had over 6 home runs in tonight’s game.  Not just home runs, let me correct myself, Long Long Long Blasts clearly over the larger sized field.

                Another team to watch for is Japan.  They play small ball, but they have rapidly increased their countries skill level in baseball and are taking over the professional World Baseball Classic and soon the Major Leagues will be featuring more Japanese players who are bound to achieve greatness in the Major Leagues.  What makes little league any different?  I was not surprised to watch the Japan vs Saudi Arabia game and see Japan come out on top. 

                However, I was surprised by Saudi Arabia today.  Who knew they even played baseball there?  Not to mention they were not half bad.  It was very interesting to see how well they spoke English as though it was their first language.

                For the championship in the Little League World Series, I have to say the two finalists are going to be Chula Vista, Ca (West) against Japan.  Chula Vista will make it with their power up and down the lineup, not to mention their bench players even participated in the slugfest tonight.  Japan will use their speed and small ball with their all around athletes to make it to the finals, which will create an interesting game between the two.

                By the way, since when does the host team (Williamsport) not participate in the World Series?

Note: Interesting to notice that baseball is spreading fast, and more international teams are qualifying, such as Middle East, Canada, Caribbean and somehow New England has their own team.