2009 EMEA Junior Baseball Tournament

Little League World Series Tournaments are Here, EMEA represented

As we begin to winddown the LL World Series run for the EMEA teams, its good to reflect on what we learn from watching boys and girls play baseball and softball in these tournaments.  For example, after spending a week in Kutno I find myself cheering for the EMEA teams now!  Last weekend I was in Portland, Oregon helping move my daughter into her college dormitory.  But one of my umpire friends, Chris Ortiz from CA D4 is one of the Little League Softball World Series umpires so I went to watch him perform.  Once at the Alpenrose fields, I found myself watching a game between EMEA team from Italy and one of the American teams.  I was wearing my EMEA hat I got in Kutno.  No one knew who I was, for all they knew I was an Italian parent.  Well, I went back for another day of games and cheered for the Italians again. 

Now, we all know the Italian Junior Baseball team won our tournament and are in Taylor, Michigan this week for the Junior BB World Series.  With one game of pool play left, they are 1 -2 and have a slim chance of making it to the semi-finals.  But as I read the game reports on the LL Website, I keep reflecting back to the players and coaches of the Italians we met in Kutno, and I can only imagine those same players at Taylor. 

When the 12s start play in Williamsport this weekend, I will be watching the MEA and Europe representatives with interest.  But those two teams are really American teams who just happen to com from Germany or Saudi Arabia. 

Those who have been to Kutno know how difficult it is for teams in EMEA to improve their skills and to involve more players - truly growing Little League.  We can do more for them from the U.S. than just cheering them on.  Being an Umpire in Europe is one way.

Good Luck to all!

Tournament Ends - It is more than Baseball

Well the regional tournament has come to an end. The Italian team prevailed over the Americans from Germany 6 - 5. The Italians rushed the field with the final out and several were seen on their cell phones obviously calling home. The Americans from Germany were disappointed but a few errors and base running mistakes took them out of the game. My game, the Consolation game was delayed for an hour by rain and finally ended with the Lithuanian team out lasting Belarus. All week the team from The Netherlands showed that while they were not competitive on the field, they had fun despite of their losses. I enjoyed meeting them and sharing pins, but I really wanted a Dutch shirt. On the last day, they offered me one of their ponchos that had kept them dry that day. With the last out, the umpires retired to start packing their gear to head home or visit Poland. A few of us gave our equipment and some uniforms to the eastern European umpires who really need it. I gave my chest protector and leg guards to one umpire who was going to give it to his father so they could umpire together; I gave my mask to one of the umpires, his mask was so heavy it would give him headache. They have no ability to purchase equipment here. Tami and I left Kutno on .Monday and headed to Krakow on vacation. More on this later. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

What umpires during a rain delay

The Championship game was played early due to threatening weather. Italy beat the Germans (Americans). Ten pitches into the Consolation game between Belarus and Lithuania the skies opened. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Living quarters

Tami here again. We are in a rain delay, so while the umpires watch the tape of the home run derby I thought I would show where Don has been living this past week. The dorm houses up to about 12 but they only have about 7. The blankets hanging down are to reduce the noise. Apparently one of the Umps is quite amazing. They have someone who cleans the common areas and does their laundry every day and brings it back later in the day. I will say that this was cleaner than any dorm room I have seen. Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

A Day of Games Followed by Lightning, Thunder, Wind and Rain!

The Semi Final games were completed on Saturday under cloudy skies with warm and humid weather.  Italy defeated Lithuania and Germany (Americans) defeated Belarus to set up Sunday's final.  These games were played under the same kind of conditions we have had all week - light winds, warm temperatures, and high humidity.  Late in the afternoon as the umpires rested and the team's were enjoying recreation outside the dorms, thunder was heard in the distance and soon the skies opened to a strong hail storm.  Rain continued off and on into the evening.  We will have to see what happens on Sunday with the weather......

Baseball - Its a Kid's Game

We often forget with all of the publicity for professional sports, and even the focus that is given to the Little League World Series, that baseball is really just a game.  Many of us played a game of baseball as children that was simple, with rules we made up, and no equipment except some sort of ball, bat and glove.  Its the same this week here in Kutno.  Take a look at this photo - a group of young boys from different countries are playing baseball.  What is different?  The pitcher is throwing something like a tennis ball, the batter is using a water bottle for a bat, home plate is just a folded up cloth, first base is the light pole, second is the trash can and third base is the bush. 

Guest poster here,Tami, Don's wife! I arrived last night to join the fun. Went to dinner with a bunch of the umpired. Pretty fun, only a FEW rules and calls discussions. At one point we tried to pull the manual up on my blackberry but the document was to big. The other excitement was comparing the two types of dumplings. We decided the fried ones were the best. I am waiting for the semi final round to start. Lithuania and italy. Don has first. I went to the umpire room right before and snapped this picture of the crew (aren't you impressed with my knowledge of the lingo?) . The other picture is of the display in the lobby of my hotel. And when they say single room they mean single, I think bed is smaller than the bunks in the umpires room. Ok time to pay attention Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Do you need water?

Everyday this young boy is here getting water for the umpires and tracking down foul balls.  Ice cold water is always there just for us.  Here he is enjoying an ice cream.

Who are the Umpires at this tournament?

The 12 umpires at this tournament come from all over the world.  We have 7 from California - two from CA District 31 which is in San Diego area, two from CA District 57 which is San Ramon/Danville, one from CA District 44 which is the Santa Clara Valley, and two from CA District 4.  Our UIC is from Houston, TX area. We have two umpires from Lithuania, one from Warsaw, Poland, and one from Earth who lives in The Netherlands.  But where they live is only part of the story.  A few of us are here for the first time, many of the others have been here for several years at many levels of play.  Many of the guys have impressive Little League stories - with World Series and Regional appearances at many levels as well over many years.  But we are all just volunteers and when it comes to taking the game assignments handed out we do it with the pride and enthusiasm fitting of a Regional Tournament.

Today is a great example - this is Semi Finals day and game assignments were given out.  Only 8 of the umpires are working today, but the others have volunteered to work a Friendship Game between The Netherlands and Sweden.  They could have taken the day off and gone sightseeing or watched the other games. 

Pool Play Ends, On to the Elimination Rounds

 

Pool play ended today with Germany (Americans) and Italy coming out on top of their pools with unbeaten records.  Next are the elimination rounds with teams from opposite pools facing off.

I had the plate assignment on the game between Belarus and Poland.  This was good game, went the full seven innings except that both teams thought the game was over after 6 innings because that is what they play in some countries!  Poland has the smallest player in the tournament - you can see him in the photos of Opening Ceremonies.  Well, everytime he has come to bat in the tournament he walked as the pitcher had a tough time finding the strike zone.  But not the last time in this game.  I called two quick strikes on him as he stood there and watched the ball come in.  Then, 3 straight balls.  With a full count, a nice fat slow pitch comes in and he swings as hard as he can and hits a ground ball.  Down the base line he scampers, as fast as he can with great enthusiasm but he is thrown out.  The few fans on the Poland side (not Polish fans, just happen to be sitting there) erupt with loud cheers and applause for his hitting, as he goes back to the dugout he tips his helmet to them.  Pretty cool.  In the same game, the Belarus catcher  missed a pitch that glanced off his glove and hit me on the shoulder.  He turned to me and said in his best English, "Sorry Umpire, my mistake."  I just smiled and he laughed.   

Umpires Are Popular with the Youth of Kutno

 

Each day the number of kids who come to watch grows, and you will find them hanging out just outside the entrance to the Umpire Room waiting to get a pin from one of the umpires.  Most speak no English, but they all want a pin, any pin.  Here is a good picture of Bobby Gump trading away his pin, surrounded by players and local kids.  He is very popular!  Scott Nelson from Danville, CA had a big bag of assorted pins and he traded them all or gave them away, so he was soon found giving away Umpire Indicators and teaching the kids how to keep track of balls and strikes!  We are pretty sure they will be in the stands today clicking away. 

Scott had finished his game assignments for the day and he thought it would be good to teach some of the kids how to throw and catch.  Soon we all looked around and we have 15 kids playing "Pickle" and having a great time.  Again, little English.  Amazing how you can teach a kid a game and they pick it up so quickly.  We want to teach them how to play "Over the Line" or "Work-Ups" next.

Day 2 of Games - Heat, Humidity, and Lots of Runs

Day 2 of the Tournament has concluded and not too soon for the group of umpires who spent the day working hard in the heat and humidity of Kutno in July.  In response to the anticipated heat later in the day, both umpire crews for the morning games picked Powder Blue as the shirt color trying to stay cooler.  Not sure how much it helped but made us all feel better having a choice.  One of the afternoon crews with Bobby Gump on the plate went for the lightest we have - Cream!  Game was also short - only 4 and half innings as Italy won over Poland on a 10 run rule.  The last game crew, led by Z Man from Lithuania went with Black shirts with black undershirts.  They looked good but were pretty hot. 

Three of the four games today were setled on the 10 run rule - Germany (Americans) over Germany 14-0, Italy over Poland 21-1, and Belarus over The Netherlands 22-2.  I think you can tell from the scores that these were pretty lopsided affairs, and you might think the losing teams took the losses badly.  Well, quite the opposite - all the teams are here to have fun and good sportsmanship, but I think we all agree the team from The Netherlands is having the most fun.  Here is a good photo of this team getting ready to run the bases after losing.

Opening Ceremonies at the Junior Tournament

Tonight was the Opening Ceremony.  All of the teams and the umpires marched onto the field, local dignitaries spoke, the Polish and American anthems were played, and three players recited the Little League Pledge in English, Polish and Polish - the littlest player from Poland!  

 

Here is a great photo of  the umpire team and the team from Poland in front of the Stadium Scoreboard. 

Pool Play Begins, Umpires Pick Out Best Looking Wardrobe....

Pool Play Games began today!  Its warm and humid here with lots of cloud cover, but this is not stopping the umpires from picking out the best looking shirts to wear!  The first crew went out in Black Polo with red undershirts, my Crew went with the Cream over black to stay cooler.  Didn't work.  Later today is the Opening Ceremonies so we all be in our Navy Blue EMEA Tournament shirts with red undershirts.  Here is a great picture of our Umpire in Chief Bobby "The Sheriff" Marshall from Texas in the Umpire Changing room.  My gear is the stuff under the "California 4" hat.

Games were interesting already.  I was 2nd base umpire in a game between Netherlands and Poland.  The Polish manager spoke no English, his coach is a young lady who is supposed to be his English interpretor but this never came into play!  The Dutch team had no numbers on their new uniforms, so they sewed tape on the jerseys overnight by hand.  The game was pretty uneven- 16 to 14 in seven innings and almost 3 hours.  Constant pitching changes and numerous fielding errors made for a long game, but in the end both teams exchanged congratulations and went off in good spirits.  I made a bonehead call, mostly because I was trying to remember how many outs there really were - called a Polish player out when the Dutch player tagged himith his glove, except the ball was in his hand not the glove!  We laughed between innings on that one.  Pretty fun to hear Dutch, Polish and English on the field. 

Umpires Enjoy a Night Out, Games Begin Tomorrow

All of the umpires have arrived at the EMEA Regional Headquarters except one from Warsaw, Poland.  There are 12 of us here - two from Lithuania, one from Texas, one from Earth (which is what his badge says, because he is from Aruba and Netherlands), and 7 from California!  Several of the guys on the team have been here many times and keep coming back.  Some have been to LL World Series, LL Regionals, one is headed to the Big League World Series this summer.  But for the next week we are here working together.

Today was filled with meetings - first the Umpire Meeting to get organized, followed by the Coaches Meeting to explain tournament rules and to seed the games.  There are 8 teams here is Kutno - Lithuiana, Belarus, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Germany (United States players), Sweden, Poland.  One of the teams showed up in new uniforms without numbers - they are out tonight finding a place to put them on.  Games begin tomorrow.

Tonight the umpires were hosted in town to dinner by a local baseball supporter.  They are passionate about the game here.  Needless to say, beer and wine was freely flowing around the table with a few holding back. 

Tomorrow is also Opening Ceremonies with local dignitaries.  We will be looking for good photo opportunities so keep looking.

Arrived in Poland

Arrived in Poland
Finally arrived in Warsaw Sunday night after traveling from San Francisco Saturday and then sitting in Paris Airport for six hours.  Its July and all of Europe is on holiday so you get to see people from everywhere in six hours.
Warwaw Airport is ver nice and all my bags arrived with me.  That's great because I will need that umpire gear. I was awakened this morning with a phone call from Tom from the Little League office.  He has sent the driver to pick me up to take to Kutno, about 120 kilometers away.  Along the drive we will see much of the countryside which from the air looked open and green. 
Tonight we have an umpire meeting where we will all meet and review mechanics.  I think Roger Buhlis will lead us in stretching first....I will let you know.

Travel Day to Warsaw

In the air now today to Warsaw via Paris.  Hopeful that my two bags will follow me to Warsaw.  I have one bag of umpire equipment - chest protector, leg guards, mask, 3 colors of ball bags, two male anatomy protectors, three ump caps of various designs, one pair of steel toed plate shoes, one pair of base shoes, two belts, 5 pairs of socks, indicators, brushes.  One bag of clothes that include 5 umpire shirts of different colors, 4 pair of pants. 

 But along with my personal items, the Umpires headed to Europe are bringing supplies to help out the leagues in attendance.  Access to gear is difficult for some countries, so each of us are bringing baseballs and throat guards.  Thanks to the Walnut Creek LL, I am bringing a dozen new Senior level balls and a dozen throat guards.  This will be given to the teams along with stuff other Blues bring along.  I have some other Walnut Creek stuff in my bag to trade or hand out - just one of the things we can do.

Next post will be from Kutno.........

One Day to Leaving - Packing Up and Finishing Details

Its Friday and last minute details are being completed.  Packing up all the umpire gear and umpire uniforms took so time and space in the luggage.  Just enough room for some personal items and clothing.

My wife, as a real LL supporter, took on the challenge of sewing on the American Flag patches on my umpire shirts.  She told me a couple of years ago that she would not be sewing on any more uniform patches - lucky for me LL came out with the iron on patches.  But these flags were not iron on, so she stepped up to help out here.  Thanks Honey!

Trading Pin Album Has Been Posted!

We have added a new album of the Trading Pins we are taking with us to Poland.  You can find them on the Right Hand column at the top of the page. 

You may be asking "What is all of this about Pins?"  This is a great tradition in Little League tournament play and with umpires.  Check out this site for more on Pin Trading.  http://www.littleleague.org/Learn_More/museum/pop/pop05/pop_0510_oct_05.htm

Preparing for travel to Poland ....

Its four days before I head to Poland but I busy getting all of the stuff I need to take ready to go. 

Most important is to get all of my Little League pins organized and ready for the trip!  I am using my new Pin Bag my son bought for me!  Thanks to my sister in law Susi who brought me a whole collection of pins from the Arcata Little League, my pin collection has grown.  I have my own personal pin to trade as well, hope to come home with some pins traded with others.