Championship day in Bristol. Delaware (visitors) vs. Rhode Island (home). Delaware had one loss, so they had to beat Rhode Island twice today if they wanted to take the title of Eastern Region Champions.
As I mentioned, the game had been moved up to 11:00am because it was expected that we’d have bad weather in the afternoon. (They were correct – as I write this about 4:00pm there is thunder and lightning in the area.)
The morning was rather grey and very hazy – it promised to be a very humid day. We hoped the overcast might hold to keep it cooler, but of course the sun came out just at game time.
The final game crew:
HP – Kevin Hunter
1B – Bill Webster
2B – Colin Donovan
3B – Bethany Fogerty
LF – Dena Solan
RF – Paul Maroni
Yes, that’s yours truly on the plate – a singular honor. We used a six umpire crew – I presume that was both to get more umpires into the game, as well as to provide the best possible coverage of the field.
Before the game, “Dugout” (the Little League mascot) performed a tribute to Kevin Holden to John Fogerty’s “Center Field” which was really nice. The crowd and players really got into it. (As did the umpires.) The gal who dons the Dugout outfit (sorry I forget your name) is really great. It’s too bad that we had such heat this week that we didn’t see more of her.
This was a steamy one, reminiscent of the days I umpired in District 9 in Fort Myers, FL. Fortunately, Chris kept me well supplied with water and towels.
The only unusual play in the game was an obstruction call at first – the first baseman got tangled with a baserunner as she rounded first. Bill made the obstruction call (I saw it as well) and protected the runner back to first. It did not appear to me that the runner would have made second had she not been obstructed, and Bill did not ask for a crew conference on the topic, so that was that.
This was a very closely contested game. 1-1 after the first inning, 2-2 after the second, 3-2 Rhode Island after three, and that was how stayed. It got dicey for Rhode Island right at the end – with two outs in the sixth and a runner on, the pitcher overthrew the first baseman on a ground ball, allowing the tying run to get to third. The next batter struck out to end the game, however, and Rhode Island took the title.
Just for the record, if the “if” game had been required, the crew would have been:
HP – Stephen Schwartz
1B – Rich Ross
2B – Dena Solan
3B – Paul Maroni
LF – Colin Donovan
RF – Bethany Fogerty
So that brings my participation in the 2015 Little League (Majors) Softball Eastern Regional Tournament to a close. To Frank, Doc, Alice and Chris: thanks for doing all the little things to make this tournament a true pleasure. To my umpiring partners: it was a joy to take the field with you. I hope our paths cross again. To all the players, coaches, managers and fans: it was a pleasure and a privilege to have been allowed to work your games.
May good fortune follow all of you in the days to come.
Sincerely,
Kevin Hunter, #34
NJ D17
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