LLWS CINDERELLA STORIES

Bill Murray: "The challenger..coming from nowhere." If you were announcing the LL World Series - That introduction would suit Mo'ne Davis and her Philly's or Pierce Jones and Chicago. Both are inner city teams that weren't supposed to be here. Only one would advance to the championship. The other would never return to the Little League World Series. The teams might, but most of the players (including Mo'ne Davis) will be over the age limit of 13 next year..

The Final Inning

CHI 6 PHI 5. Man on 3rd, 2 outs, top of the 6th (they only play 6). It was the last at bat for Philly. The count was 3 and 2. The next pitch could end the game. "Ball!. Men on 1st and 3rd. Need 1 Run to Tie.  Their most consistent hitter "Rice" is now at bat. He hit a homer before. A hit would tie, a homer could win it. He pops it up to right field. It is caught by Home Run Star Pierce Jones. Game Over. 

The World Was Watching

A few weeks earlier - I was accidentally watching Sports Center. Some kid name Pierce Jones hit 3 home runs and a single in one game.  That caught my interest. I do not watch baseball. I don't watch children play baseball.  Then I hear about a 13 year old girl pitching a shut out. OK..I watched baseball. So did millions of other Americans and the world. Why - because of one little girl name Mo'ne Davis. 

Our Girl

We all had to tune in to see what the fuss was all about. When we did, we weren't disappointed.  Well, a little, because she couldn't pitch 2 games in a row. So, the first time I saw her - she was playing 3rd base. That alone impressed me. She plays two positions. pretty good for a girl. Then they moved her to short stop and 1st base. First base? Isn't that a specialty position that takes years to learn? Her first at bat I was glued to the set, Rooting for her . She was about to strike out when she dropped one into right field to drive in a run. At this point, she wasn't "A" girl, she had become "Our" girl. They put in a pinch hitter for her in her final game. He struck out with men on base. Can't help but think she might have driven one in and won it for them. To be honest, I had a pain in my gut - knowing she wouldn't have one more chance to play in the championship Saturday.  But thanks for the ride Mo'ne. You will always be "Our" girl.

Our Kids

Mo'ne Davis was a Gateway drug. By watching her, we had to watch the other kids too. It was like the "Bad News Bears". A week later we knew all the kids on the Philly team. Power Hitter "Zion Spearman", with his infectious smile. Little kid named "Rice" Mr. dependable at the plate.
And of course Pitcher "Erik Lipson" AKA "The Lipster" he prefers "Lippy". Skinny little blonde kid with braces. Winning or Losing - He was "Always" smiling. It was like someone accidentally let him in a strip club and he was just happy to be there. 

They Taught Us Something  

"Lippy" especially, taught us all something. 1980s AVP star Tim Hovland used to yell it at the refs: "Be Here! As adults, we try so hard to control situations and outcomes - we often forget to just enjoy the moment. Remember that next time you pick up your kid for weekend visitation. The kids taught us all how to be kids again. Thank you - We owe you one - We will miss you all. 






SeaBiscuit:: "You know, everybody thinks we found this broken-down horse and fixed him, but we didn't. He fixed us. Every one of us. And I guess in a way we kinda fixed each other too."

One Race Left for SeaBiscuit

The Cinderella Story Continues. Chicago, an all black Inner city team - plays Las Vegas, a predominantly white team from a privileged suburb. These kids are color blind. We should be too. I must admit though, with Race Protests in Ferguson and thousands dying in Africa from Ebola - I will be rooting for Chicago, always love the underdog anyway. Las Vegas Pummeled Chicago in the first game.

But as Red Pollard said in SeaBiscuit:: 

"Sometimes all the little guy needs is a second chance" 

If Chicago were to somehow beat Las Vegas and then up the international champion - it would be the sports upset of the decade. Regardless of the outcome - If we just enjoy the moment - we can all take a break from the troubles of the world for a couple of hours and remember what it was like to be a kid. 

-Rick Jansen

LLWS CBS Saturday

9:30 (PST) International Championship Japan vs South Korea

12:30 (PST) US Championship Las Vegas vs Chicago 

Winners play for World Championship.

If you set your DVR - have it run an hour or more over - these games often run over .

This article doesn't even come close to sharing all the players or moments you missed if you didn't watch the whole series. Watch the games Here:

http://espn.go.com/watchespn/player/_/id/1891792/