Little League World Series on TV

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Im sorry but I have to respond to this nonsense about a 12u girl throwing 63 mph. Pleeeese even with an 11 inch ball and even at 40 feet if this girl was throwing 63 she should have been the only 12 yr old ever to make an olympic team. We all have heard of juiced guns but i need to borrow ESPNS so i can tell every body my 13 yr old just broke 70 mph. LOL Maybe 53 and that might be a stretch. These teams would have trouble winning a local non qualifier. ;D ;D
 
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We have sanctioned Little League in our town. The rules are different and the quality of play is terrible.We play summer league at our school OHSSA rules.The ball was definitely foul. ::)
 
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There is only one thing more hard to belive than an 12 year old throwing 63-64 mph. It is a 12 year old hitting it.
 
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I only was able to watch for 5 minutes last night but regardless of what we all think about Little League softball, the girl from the Philippines was throwing smoke. Maybe she wasn't 12 or something, but I believe the 63-64 readings I saw were accurate. Before everyone discounts it without having seen it, watch a game yourself. I never heard of Little League softball before last night, but I was amazed at this pitcher.
 
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I had an 11yr old on my team this year that threw harder than any girl we faced all summer, she even broke my catchers thumb, and she wasn't throwing much above 55mph. I'm sorry, but I just cannot believe 63mph from a 12u. Maybe once on a fluke, but no way consistently. The muscle development and coordination required at that age level would be phenominal. I'll have to see it to believe it.

That quick I moved to Missouri. LoL
 
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People need to "lighten up" about the quality of play. Of course, it's not travel ball, but no one said it was. Anything that gets the great game of ladies softball on national TV, at whatever level, is good for the overall sport. Saying this team or level would beat them is simply conjucture. enjoy it for what it is !!
 
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I wish they would put some ASA softball on TV. This LLWS is pathetic. Its embarassing to watch. The general public who happen to tune in are not seeing the true level of play that exists in the sport. Just listening to the announcers makes me cringe.
 
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Just some thoughts about the LLWS.

First these girls can not turn 13 years of age before Aug 1st of this year. LL has changed this rule to match ASA,NSA ,and USSSA age requirements for next year in their softball division.

Second these girls are selected from their local association with stict residency requirements many times the girls are selected early in the season and play and practice together but at times the selection is done from only 40 to 50 rec league players.

The quality of play is not travel ball quality but does give local organizations a chance to showcase talent. Give little league credit if it continues with its softball program the way it has with its baseball programs this organiztion will rival some of the current softball associations in the 6 to 12 year old age groups.

Lastly, That pitcher for the Philipines reminds me of the baseball pitcher for a New York Team quite a few years back that threw about 75 mph + and after the World Series it was discovered that he was actually 14 with a forged birth certificate. But this does show how far a team can go behind a good pitcher even if the rest of the team can't play which is pretty typical of recreational ball.

Not critical of rec ball, just love the game and we all have to start somewhere.
 
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from what i have heard, Little League "PAYS" ESPN to cover their World Series. ASA, NSA, etc. put their $'s back into our girls!
 
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I have to agree with notinoh, everyone has to begin somewhere. ?I sometimes wonder about how the 'good' players at 11 and 12 will end up at 15/16 yrs old. ?Some of the major differences in the girls abilities are how quickly these you athletes develop. ?As they age, the slower developing girls will catch some of the 'good' players and probably pass some of them. ?So, although they are not there yet, it is good for them to have a place to hone their skill and something to work for. ?After all, how many adults would go to work for nothing? I enjoy seeing softball on tv and so does my DD. ?If you haven't figgured out that you can allways learn something from just about anyone, youve probably learned about as much as you are going to. ?Enjoy it for what it is, an opportunity for more girls to get into softball.

DuaneW
 
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A lot of good comments all around. Interesting.

Not being a coach, but having an 11u who has played 7 years of ball already (dating back to the humble beginnings in boys t-ball, coach pitch, etc), I was impressed with a lot of the things the girls on espn were doing. I thought some of the base running was lacking if not AWFUL, and I was surprised at a few of the balls which gapped OF's, however many fundamentals looked decent - girls were pretty good at getting bunts down versus "decent" pitching (whether it was 63 or not??), and for the most part many GREAT defensive plays were made because girls were in the right places positionally, or backing up.

My point is that it is darn nice to see girls getting air time, and there were some teaching opportunities - we, personally, don't have a film room to review & analyze the action like that at home, otherwise (LOL).
 
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I know we all hear stories about girls throwing faster than they really do ... but for those of you "doubting Thomases" who keep insisting that no 12 year old can throw 63-64, this girl from the Phillipines was. If the ESPN gun was off, I'm sure it wasn't by more than 1-2 MPH. Keep in mind that it was an 11 vs. 12 inch ball. Just because it was Little League, everyone seems to want to discount everything about it. The brief time I watched I didn't notice much movement on her ball, and there was some sloppy play, but this girl was throwing bullets. Do I know for a fact that it was a girl and that she was only 12, no I don't, but I do know that her speed was comparable to what I saw in the College World Series and she was a lot faster than the U.S. pitcher. The U.S. team did get to her for one run in the 7th.
 
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I was just glad to see girls softball on Television. Anything like that can only help the sport. I also thought it was interesting how the coaches talked to the players w/ the mics on!! HA! They sure were sweet to those girls!!

Did you guys notice that they cannot leave the base until the ball CROSSES the plate!!! That makes for a lot less Stolen Base Attempts.

We watched both the boys LL and the girls LL. I saw that young lady from the Phillipines throw the heat also--- but if you notice they finally hit the ball because she was a consistent 62, 63, 63, etc, etc. etc. The batters learn to time that if she doesn't put a lot of movement on it. When my daugther was about that age her hitting coach put the pitching machine up to 72mph just to see if she could hit it. After a few attempts and instructions from the coach, she was plastering that ball just like it was 55... it can be done...even by a 12 year old... consistent speed fastballs are easier to hit than mixed up speeds of different pitches.... timing the ball is the key

You guys that thought GIRLS LLWS was embarassing need to lighten up. They were asking everyone to get online and write letters to the Olympics about softball - good will come of that!!! --- it may help your young girls realize her dream of playing in the Olypmics.

We need to be asking why doesn't ASA, NSA, or these other organizations jump on the wagon and get ESPN to broadcast its nationals at least at the U18 level? They could sell the air time... anything that promotes the sport is good. YOU GO LL girls!! Keep on playing!
 
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I agree with you ziggy, no matter how good or bad it was, it was nice to be able to watch girls softball instead of some reality show. :)
Negative comments toward any level of softball should not be tolerated on this forum. ?We are all on here because we enjoy the game, not to belittle those who have been given the opportunity to showcase their abilities in the national spotlight. ?Its no wonder the IOC wants no part in American softball!!! ;)
 
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Anyone have any thoughts as to why the nsa or asa W.S. doesnt get any tv(espn) time???????
 
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LadyKnights put it right- guys lighten up - it's about the girls and if more and more play - then that's great!!
 
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I saw this years semi final game and I thought there was a definate improvement in this year's pitchers compared to last year's pitchers. As for the hitters and Fielders, well they still have a ways to go to match ASA or NSA's upper echlon teams.
 
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What was all of your opinions with the 3rd base coach from Connecticut, instructing his players on a variety of different hitting and batting MECHANICS, right before the girl was ready to step into the batter's box?

I cringe when I hear 3rd base coaches do this, because while many 3rd base coaches do this, it does more harm than good. What do other OFC message board readers think??
 
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Softball Junkie, Lady Knights,
my complaint most certainly isn't about the girls, it's about a misrepresentation of the ability of 12-year-old athletes who play top-level softball (mostly ASA)
The VAST majority of the viewiing population has no base knowledge of the incredible talents on display at the ASA National Championships at the 12-year-old level -- consequently, these people simply assume that this is the highest level since it's on TV
 
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Riff-Raff said:
I think it's retarded that they show this, and act like it's the best softball played in the world. I watched some of this last night and had to turn the channel before my daughter watched any longer and picked up any bad habits. It was more comical listening to the play by play. ?:p

Boy do I agree with you there! LL Softball is one of the poorest excusses for the game around. The only the thing LL orginzation did was to take their BB rules and apply them across the board. Softball is not baseball folks!

The one thing positive is that at least Girls Softball got some air time!
 

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