2007 Little League World Series

Did you see that catch that the kid from Mass. made to rob a home run in the last inning on Friday? I have always loved the Little League World Series. As a kid it was the ultimate dream to be able to play in it. This dream was crushed in the State Championship as a twelve year old when my team was beaten 3-2 by Berlin, Ct way back in 1991. Then as a fifteen year old my All-Star team was within two games of going to the Senior League World Series until bowing out of the East Regional Championships to a team from Maryland. In part because I was lucky enough to have been on some great youth baseball teams that came so close to advancing to the World Series, I have always had a special interest in the goings on in Williamsport. The following are the three most memorable moments in my memory of Little League World Series history...

1989 - Chris Drury leads Trumbull, CT to the first U.S. victory in seven years
I still remember this game like it was yesterday. Being from Connecticut, this game had a special buildup since not many people could have ever expected the Trumbull kids to get past mighty San Pedro, CA to even advance to the Championship Game. Once they got to the title game, the boys from Trumbull, Ct showed an amazing amount of guts and heart to shock the heavily favored team from Taiwan. Drury, the winning pitcher, set a message early when the Taiwan 1st baseman stepped on his hand and Drury immediately got right into his face, foreshadowing his future hockey career.

1998 - Toms River, NJ beats Japan 12-9 in a game that featured 11 Home Runs
The thing that sticks out to me about this team was that their lineup was stacked from top to bottom with power. They had a kid named Chris Cardone, marred in a 1 for 10 slump going into the game, who hit two dramatic home runs, including a two run shot late to give Toms River the lead in the title game. This team also included future Cincinnati Reds draft pick Todd Frazier who batted lead off and played a flawless shortstop for the eventual champions.

2001 - 14 year old Danny Almonte cheats his way through the tournament
In the saddest series of events in Little League World Series, Danny Almonte pitched dominant baseball that included a Perfect Game against Apopka, Florida. His Bronx, NY team finished 3rd overall and was honored at Yankee Stadium after the tournament. Immediately after the tournament ended, Almonte became the focal point of an investigation into how old he actually was. Come to find out, Almonte's father had forged a birth certificate that allowed his fourteen year old son play against twelve year olds. Way to go Dad!