LLWS: On TV this weekend

[regaleagle]

Lufkin, Texas is the representative of the Southwest Region this year at the LLWS. They won their opening game today 5-1 vs the Great Lakes region winner from Michigan. Texas hit 4 homers.......3 of them back to back to back. I believe Texas allowed 2 hits......one was a homer. They get a day off before playing again. The loser's bracket plays again the next day. American winner vs International winner for the LLWS Championship is the way they have been setting up this tournament for years......maybe for the entire history of the LLWS. These are two separate divisions. None of the American teams play International teams until the Championship game. I think I'm correct here......unless they play a game after being officially knocked out of the tournament. I think all teams are guaranteed 3 games, but after 2 losses you are knocked out of competing for the Championship.

[regaleagle]

Watching Lufkin, Tx. vs Connecticut in the early winner's bracket game today......it's 3-3 after 3 innings. Looks like Lufkin will have its hands full in the LLWS against some very good teams. They don't and won't play against them all.....thank goodness. They need to take it one game at a time and see where the chips fall in this Double Elimination Tournament.

[regaleagle]

Now it's 5-3 after 4 innings......Lufkin hitting the ball well, but some hard shots right to a fielder. Not striking out much, though.

[regaleagle]

Tonight for the first time ever......a Major League baseball game will be played in Williamsport. It will be the Cardinals vs the Pirates tonight on ESPN. Right now their players are on the grounds and in the stands watching the games and taking part in the festivities.

[regaleagle]

Now 6-3 Lufkin after 5 innings......Connecticut has only 3 outs left. Lufkin is the home team in this one and gets a final bat if needed.

[regaleagle]

Game Over......Lufkin wins 6-3 and goes 2-0 in LLWS. Collin Ross was on the mound throwing heat and went the distance with only 73 pitches total. Pitchers are held to 85 total pitches in LLWS, but can finish the at bat when they throw their 85th pitch. Texas has some good pitchers and some power. Mumphery hit 2 homers today. Ditsworth will most likely be on the mound in the next game. Overall, this is a good group that defeated a very good San Antonio McAllister Park team to get here as the Southwest Regional Champion.
Now Lufkin, Texas is one win away from the American Championship game.

[regaleagle]

Team Canada defeated a very good Venezuela team today to go 2-0 in the International winners bracket. They look pretty strong for that division.

[regaleagle]

Mid-Atlantic New Jersey defeated West California tonite to knock them out. Northeast Connecticut defeated Northwest Washington to knock them out. Now it's New Jersey vs Connecticut in an elimination game in the losers bracket(each has one loss). Southwest Lufkin, Texas will play Southeast North Carolina on ESPN Wed.@7:30pm in the winners bracket(both are 2-0). The winner of this game goes to the American Division Championship game, and the loser will play the winner of the New Jersey/Connecticut game. The winner of that game will win the losers bracket and play in the American Division Championship game. Looks like Lufkin has a very good chance here. North Carolina has thrown 2 shut out no hitters. Methinks the Texas team will not be shut out, will get their hits and defeat this powerful North Carolina team.

[regaleagle]

In the International Division, both Canada and Japan are 2-0 and will also play the early game on ESPN on Wednesday. Venezuela knocked out Dominican Republic and Mexico defeated S. Korea tonite in elimination games in the losers bracket. Mexico should defeat Venezuela tomorrow, but you just never know. The winner will play the loser of the Canada/Japan game for the losers bracket winner. The losers bracket winner will then play the winner of the Canada/Japan game for the International Division Championship on Saturday.

[regaleagle]

Saturday will be the championship title games for both divisions, and then Sunday will be two games also. The Consolation game will be pit the losers of the divisional championship games against each other, and then the big game.......for all the marbles.......The LLWS Championship Game. So that's how it works folks......Lufkin, Texas is in a good spot right now.

[regaleagle]

Actually.......tonite's game with Lufkin and North Carolina airs @ 6:30 pm Central on ESPN. Connecticut from the Northwest defeated New Jersey from the Mid-Atlantic earlier today. New Jersey is knocked out. Texas has already defeated Connecticut earlier in Game 2 for them. The loser will face Connecticut for the winner of the loser's bracket.

[regaleagle]

Mexico defeated Venezuela yesterday and knocked them out. They will be playing the loser of today's Canada/Japan game in the International Division. That game will air at 2 pm Central on ESPN.

[regaleagle]

Japan blanked Canada 10-0 and sent them into the loser's bracket to play Mexico at 2 pm on Thurs. on ESPN......it wasn't close. I think Mexico is gonna win the losers bracket to play Japan for the International title.

[regaleagle]

North Carolina(Southeast) defeated Texas(Southwest) 2-1 in a pitching duel in extra innings. Texas will now play Connecticut (New England) again at 6:30 Thurs. on ESPN. The winner will face North Carolina in the American title game on Saturday.

Texas defeated Connecticut earlier 6-3 to give them their only loss. This will be a rematch.

[regaleagle]

Mexico eliminated Canada today 6-2 to advance to the Championship game Saturday against Japan in the International Division. Texas run-ruled Connecticut 14-4 in 5 innings to advance for the rematch against North Carolina for the American Championship game on Saturday. I still think this Lufkin team can win it all.....but must find a way to beat this North Carolina squad. They just need to take their swings......the pitching is good on both clubs. And so is the hitting, but I think Texas has better hitting. North Carolina has a couple of dominant pitchers, but so does Texas. It comes down to who gets the breaks and putting the ball in play offensively. In Little League, sometimes pass balls can make the difference......but runners in scoring position has to happen first.