| If you want to see an individual who cares about | | | | United States and one for the International. |
| the game of baseball and the pride of winning, | | | | The emergence of ESPN over the last thirty |
| just watch the Little League World Series. It's a | | | | years has turned a little league championship |
| baseball event everyone can learn from no | | | | game into a real World Series styled event. Kids |
| matter how old you are. A game where eleven, | | | | are interviewed, parents soon follow, and those |
| twelve, and thirteen year old kids take all the | | | | who were once unknown are now put under the |
| baseball training they know and give it all they | | | | microscope for all the world to judge. Probably |
| have for the national spotlight that the LLWS | | | | more surprising then anything else is the players |
| provides. | | | | that have gone on to play in the major leagues. |
| When it's all over there are no million dollar | | | | Guys like Gary Sheffield of the Detroit Tigers, |
| contracts or shoe deals, because in their world, it's | | | | who could be one of the first players to tell you |
| all for the love of the game. Then of course, | | | | the kind of baseball training that is required to go |
| having fun with friends and family playing video | | | | from playing in the Little League World Series to |
| games, going to school, doing homework, and for | | | | the real thing in the majors. He played for |
| some even other sports somewhere in between. | | | | Belmont Heights, which represented the U.S. |
| The juggling act is relentless, especially for teams | | | | against Taiwan in the LLWS losing 4-3. However, |
| that play for the right to get to the Little League | | | | he was not picked to the team for his batting skill, |
| World Series. | | | | but for his baseball pitching [ Hitting and |
| It's been over 60 years since the first LLWS | | | | Pitching.php], which was excellent at a young age. |
| game was played, where teams from all over the | | | | Baseball events like the LLWS has allowed players |
| United States competed in South Williamsport for | | | | like Sheffield and Boston Red Sox captain/catcher |
| national recognition. However, it's a grueling | | | | Jason Varitek get noticed at a young age from |
| process to get to that stage, starting off with | | | | different scouts all over the country. However, |
| little league organizations around the country that | | | | the spotlight isn't always as kind, after the 1984 |
| have to choose an all-star team to represent | | | | games left Varitek hitless (0-7). His Florida squad |
| their particular leagues. | | | | made it to the finals, but lost to South Korea 6-2. |
| Once chosen, teams work their way through | | | | It just shows youngsters today that growing up |
| elimination tournaments until finally reaching the | | | | playing baseball has its ups and downs even for |
| ultimate destination. What used to be just a | | | | professional athletes when they are young. Those |
| tournament for the U.S. has worked its way | | | | are the times that it's most difficult to overcome, |
| around the world, that offers an International | | | | and continuous training is required to keep moving |
| bracket to compensate the United States side | | | | forward. With the proper work ethic, we may |
| which both consist of eight teams a piece. Then | | | | see you in the Little League World Series. Then |
| each play their respected sides elimination | | | | again you may be a parent reading this, and if |
| tournament until only one team is standing for the | | | | that's the case, maybe will see your son there. |