2013 Moreland Little League Challenger Jamboree Overview

It is a struggle to keep a community together. It is easy to get caught up in the noise and lose sight of the bigger picture. The more difficult thing is to set aside differences, find common ground and move forward. This has been one take-away from my two years as president of Moreland Little League.

One value that Little League provides is it gives a bunch of otherwise disconnected citizens something in common and is the thread that can stitch together community. In urban areas especially, its system of boundaries forces a tight geographic community, which is unlike the direction of youth sports today where the community is increasingly based around performance. With Little League, everyone plays, regardless of income or ability.

The primary benefit is not obvious. Baseball is just the vehicle to impart positive values to our youth, and, in the process, it helps adults if they are open to learning. It has certainly taught me a great deal. Everything that is good about Little League is manifested in its Challenger program.

It was an honor to be part of the 2013 Challenger Jamboree, which featured teams from south Silicon Valley to San Francisco to the north. This truly was an extraordinary event that wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work by so many volunteers and the generous donations by the many sponsors. It is one thing to read and understand the impact this program has on the children and their families, but it doesn’t compare to the tangibility of being there. The next best thing to being there is this video, which provides a flavor for the day’s events and what this great program is all about.

The MLL A’s Take on the LG Pirates

Led by Coach Daryl, the awesome A’s battle the Los Gatos Pirates.  Loads of fun ensues for all involved.

1962 Team Celebrated in Williamsport

Nice article and picture about the 1962 team from the Williamsport Sun Gazette.

http://sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/582530/Former-champions-celebrate-50-year-mark.html

Campbell & MLL Post Season Success Through the Years

The Campbell Patch has a great summary of some of the successes of “Campbell” baseball through the years. Campbell baseball, as defined by Chuck Hildebrand, include the Moreland Little League of West San Jose. This article from the Campbell Patch provides an outline of Hildebrand’s book:

http://campbell.patch.com/articles/what-do-you-remember-about-campbell-s-successes-in-the-little-league-world-series?ncid=newsltuspatc00000001#youtube_video-11118833

His book is more than baseball; it is a brief history of the transformation of our area from a post-war, working class agricultural community to the high-tech mecca known as Silicon Valley.

“The Last Baseball Town: How Campbell, California achieved the unprecedented, and still unduplicated, in American youth baseball.”

The book also features profiles on a number of people who are familiar fixtures at Moreland Little League.

See if you can identify one of those people from the 1979 Campbell team who has been a great mentor to our kids:

’62 Team Highlighted in NBC Bay Area 11 Coverage

NBC Bay Area 11 spent the evening with 1962, Moreland Little League 1st baseman, Phil Kagel, watching the 2012 Petaluma game, as chronicled in this video. This was just before Phil’s departure to meet many of his teammates in Williamsport to watch the 2012 LLWS.

To read the transcript and view the video, go to:

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/1962-Little-League-World-Series-Champs-Cheer-Petaluma-167365335.html

Moreland Little League at A’ s

Thanks Chevrolet and Capitol Chevrolet for hosting Moreland Little League at last night’s Oakland A’ s game. And thanks for your support of Moreland Little League in 2012! The fundraiser and your donation was very helpful in maintaining our registration rates and being able to support scholarships. Thanks!

Game Winning Run

The Moreland Little League 11-year-old all-stars come from behind to pick up the victory in their first game of the 2012 tournament. The game winning run is shown in the above video

2012 KNBR Skills Clinic at Moreland Little League

KNBR 680 and their sponsors (Monterey Bay Aquarium, Kelly-Moore Paints, San Francisco Bulls Pro Hockey and Togo’s) held their first 2012 baseball skills clinic at Moreland Little League. This was a great event for our greater youth community and supported Moreland Little League. Thanks KNBR and its sponsors! We look forward to being part of this great event in 2013!

And thanks to the MLL volunteers; Mike Amicarelli, Joey, Jennifer Nakata, Dave Roberson and the fine representatives from Mitty High School, Chris, Conner and Matthew.  Thanks!

Campbell Reporter Article Highlights MLL 2012 Brewers and White Sox

Great summary of final TOC games for 2012 MLL Brewers and White Sox.
http://www.mercurynews.com/campbell/ci_20913045/campbell-moreland-champions-compete-district-44-ll-tocs

Moreland Little League Frequently Asked Questions

The Moreland White Sox Win Game 1 of the TOCs

In a hard-fought game, the MLL Major White Sox prevailed over a Sunnyvale Metro Phillies team that wouldn’t quit as the final run was decided with two outs in the bottom of the 6th inning. Pitching carried the White Sox, as Anthony Escobar started, gave up no runs and worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the 1st and and struck out the side in the second. Chase Broberg and Justin Johnson carried on for Escobar and closed out the game. White Sox pitchers combined for 11 strike outs.

The White Sox struck first with a scoring drive led by a hit to third by Escobar, followed by a base hit by Jake Amicarelli. Melissa Drews took first after being hit with a ball to the thigh. Escobar was forced out at home, but Jake Amicarelli scored on a passed ball to Mathew Miyada. Miyada walked, loading the bases for Justin Johnson who hit a double to the left center fence, giving the White Sox 3 runs. Johnson was the hitting star for the White Sox going three for three.

The Phillies tied it in the 6th. In the bottom half of the 6th, Dylan Ellis hit a sharp line drive to third base to start the inning. Two outs and a stolen base later, Matthew Miyada hustles to first on a hit between first and second. Matthew Kennedy scores the go ahead run from second on a close tag play at the plate. Final, White Sox 4, Phillies 3.

The above video provides some of the game’s highlights.