OldTimer’s Dugout - General Topics, Chat, Random Photos and Memes.......No Politics

#182
#182
18060_289493530529_7060737_n.jpg

I was the coach of the 1997 LL State Champs. We spent 11 days in Muscle Shoals due to a hurricane drenching the area for days. Game 1, we beat Gadston 4-3. The game lasted 11 innings. My son was the winning pitcher. After the game, a stranger came up to me and said "That was the best Little League game I have ever seen....no, it was the best baseball game I have ever seen!" I think that game motivated my son to work hard to become a college baseball player, wanting to experience that exuberance again.
 
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#188
#188
LAVol1 said:
18060_289493530529_7060737_n.jpg

I was the coach of the 1997 LL State Champs. We spent 11 days in Muscle Shoals due to a hurricane drenching the area for days. Game 1, we beat Gadston 4-3. The game lasted 11 innings. My son was the winning pitcher. After the game, a stranger came up to me and said "That was the best Little League game I have ever seen....no, it was the best baseball game I have ever seen!" I think that game motivated my son to work hard to become a college baseball player, wanting to experience that exuberance again.
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Good story! Where did he play?
GBO!!
 
#194
#194
cobbwebb0710 said:
Good story! Where did he play?
GBO!!
Click to expand...
Birmingham Southern and UAB. 6'7" LHP.

The whole story is really good. Our team was not expected to get out of our local tourney. We were seeded third behind Theodore and Cottage Hill. We beat both of those teams and cruised through the District tourney.

Muscle Shoals hosted the State Tourney. They did a good job of setting up the tournament to benefit their local team, putting the three strongest teams in the opposing bracket. We faced the tournament favorite, Gadston in game 1. Gadsden had won the 10 y.o. LL State Championship and had 3 big athletic kids who could throw close to 70MPH and a couple of other "stud" LL players. My "Ace" threw 70MPH with a really good slider and could pinpoint his pitches better than any LL pitcher I have ever seen. He entered the 6th inning ahead 3-2. With 2 outs, nobody on and a 0-2 count on the #3 hitter, 5'7", 160lb. Bo Battles, I said to myself, "O.K. Josh, one more pitch, just blow it by him." Josh let it fly with all the effort he could muster, a fast ball over the outside corner at the letters. Battles was a little late on the pitch, but squared it up. It went over the right field fence, cleared the parking lot, and landed on the roof of the school building, probably over 300' away from home plate. I've never seen a LL player hit a ball near that far. I went to the mound and asked Josh if he was O.K. He looked up at me and said "coach, I'm done". He had given all he had, nothing left in the tank. I turned to Josh's dad and said, "Charlie, who do I put in?" Without hesitation, he said "Paul" (my son). I knew the answer before I asked but I needed the nudge to put my son in such a pressure situation. Paul came in and got the final out, then pitched a scoreless 7th.

The game was suspended because no Little League inning is allowed to start after 10PM. So, we came back the next evening to finish the game. Paul held the opposition scoreless thru the 10th. In the top of the 11th, we got a single from one of our players and I put James, our fastest runner, in for him. With two out, Paul hit a weak flare to right-center. With two out, I wanted to put the pressure on and waved James to try for 3rd. James raced around 2nd. The center fielder fired a seed to third. As the third baseman attempted to catch the ball and put the tag on a sliding James, it got away from him. Even though the ball didn't get far away, I sent James home. The throw and James arrived at almost the same time. The umpire called him safe. Our dugout went wild! The next hitter struck out and we took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the 11th. Paul retired the side in order and the celebration ensued with a dog pile on the pitcher's mound. I have a picture of me lifting Paul high in the air, with an indescribable look of joy on our faces. To tell the truth, I was probably more relieved than happy for the win. I shook the hand of the disconsolate opposing coach, trying to find words to console him. I'll never forget the look on his face. He was crushed and I felt so bad for him.

I get teared up thinking about that night. I wish every father and son could share such a great moment. The kids from that team still call me "coach" and hug me every time they see me. We went on to win the tournament and advance to the regionals in St. Pete.

Footnote: My "ace" pitched a no-hitter, striking out 15 in the LL Regionals in St. Pete. a couple of weeks later in a 1-0 win over West VA.
 
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#197
#197
LAVol1 said:
Birmingham Southern and UAB. 6'7" LHP.

The whole story is really good. Our team was not expected to get out of our local tourney. We were seeded third behind Theodore and Cottage Hill. We beat both of those teams and cruised through the District tourney.

Muscle Shoals hosted the State Tourney. They did a good job of setting up the tournament to benefit their local team, putting the three strongest teams in the opposing bracket. We faced the tournament favorite, Gadston in game 1. Gadsden had won the 10 y.o. LL State Championship and had 3 big athletic kids who could throw close to 70MPH and a couple of other "stud" LL players. My "Ace" threw 70MPH with a really good slider and could pinpoint his pitches better than any LL pitcher I have ever seen. He entered the 6th inning ahead 3-2. With 2 outs, nobody on and a 0-2 count on the #3 hitter, 5'7", 160lb. Bo Battles, I said to myself, "O.K. Josh, one more pitch, just blow it by him." Josh let it fly with all the effort he could muster, a fast ball over the outside corner at the letters. Battles was a little late on the pitch, but squared it up. It went over the right field fence, cleared the parking lot, and landed on the roof of the school building, probably over 300' away from home plate. I've never seen a LL player hit a ball near that far. I went to the mound and asked Josh if he was O.K. He looked up at me and said "coach, I'm done". He had given all he had, nothing left in the tank. I turned to Josh's dad and said, "Charlie, who do I put in?" Without hesitation, he said "Paul" (my son). I knew the answer before I asked but I needed the nudge to put my son in such a pressure situation. Paul came in and got the final out, then pitched a scoreless 7th.

The game was suspended because no Little League inning is allowed to start after 10PM. So, we came back the next evening to finish the game. Paul held the opposition scoreless thru the 10th. In the top of the 11th, we got a single from one of our players and I put James, our fastest runner, in for him. With two out, Paul hit a weak flare to right-center. With two out, I wanted to put the pressure on and waved James to try for 3rd. James raced around 2nd. The center fielder fired a seed to third. As the third baseman attempted to catch the ball and put the tag on a sliding James, it got away from him. Even though the ball didn't get far away, I sent James home. The throw and James arrived at almost the same time. The umpire called him safe. Our dugout went wild! The next hitter struck out and we took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the 11th. Paul retired the side in order and the celebration ensued with a dog pile on the pitcher's mound. I have a picture of me lifting Paul high in the air, with an indescribable look of joy on our faces. To tell the truth, I was probably more relieved than happy for the win. I shook the hand of the disconsolate opposing coach, trying to find words to console him. I'll never forget the look on his face. He was crushed and I felt so bad for him.

I get teared up thinking about that night. I wish every father and son could share such a great moment. The kids from that team still call me "coach" and hug me every time they see me. We went on to win the tournament and advance to the regionals in St. Pete.

Footnote: My "ace" pitched a no-hitter, striking out 15 in the LL Regionals in St. Pete. a couple of weeks later in a 1-0 win over West VA.
Click to expand...
Love it!!
GBO!!
 
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