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Lubbock, TX Advances to United States World Championship
By Jeff | August 24, 2007
I’m going to cheat on this one as I had an extremely busy day that involved a visit with my wife to her doctor (a blog about that is scheduled for tomorrow), four trips to school to complete my registration due to various issues, and still managed to go to work and finish my day there - even though it was only 4 hours. So, as I was going over today’s game in the Little League World Series, I read this article that I feel is perfect as it is written and so I copied and pasted with a link to the true article from Jeff Walker of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
I also heard that some of the other teams were calling our starting pitcher, Garrett Williams (pictured), El Diablo. That translates to ‘the devil’ because his pitching is so nasty. I have been unable to confirm that, but it’s believable because he is so good that I felt obligated to include it.
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — A manager rarely removes a pitcher from a baseball game in the middle of an at-bat.
And a pitcher is rarely removed after allowing only one hit.
The Western All-Stars have advanced to the United States final with the coaching staff relying on its instincts.
Those same instincts helped the Western coaches make a rare move in the team’s 8-2 victory on Thursday against Lake Oswego, Ore., in the United States semifinals of the Little League World Series.
With runners on second and third and nobody out in the bottom of the second inning, Garrett Williams replaced Western starter Taylor Bridges with a 1-2 count. Bridges retired the side in order in the first, then allowed a walk and a double to open the second.
Williams allowed a hit to the second batter he faced, which scored two runs, but shut down Lake Oswego the rest of the way and Western advanced to Saturday’s U.S. final against the winner of Chandler, Ariz., and Warner Robins, Ga.
Oregon manager Craig Ramey said he wasn’t surprised by the move, which came against his son, Harrison.
“I’m sure in that situation they figured they had to throw their best out there to see if (they) can get to the next game,†Ramey said. “I thought it was a great move on their part.â€
The move also preserves Bridges for Saturday’s game. Bridges threw 20 pitches against Oregon. Had he thrown one more, he would have needed to observe one day of rest that included a game before he could pitch again, according to Little League rules.
“We still have almost all of our pitching staff available (except Williams),†Western manager Ed Thorne said. “… There’s no tomorrow. I made that decision; we were watching the pitch count on Bridges. It wasn’t that Bridges was throwing bad at all. Oregon came out and hit the ball. We knew we were in a smoke fight and we had the best smoke.â€
Williams needed just one pitch to complete the strikeout, which was credited to Bridges. He allowed a hit to the next batter he faced, but then settled down to give another solid outing.
Williams struck out six in a row after allowing the hit. He finished with 11 strikeouts, giving him 28 for the Little League World Series.
Chad Williams, Garrett’s father, has been with the team for the past four years. He said he gets nervous for the team because like the other coaches, he considers all of them sons. When his son is on the mound, though, something different kicks in for the elder Williams.
“I’m a little more nervous, naturally, when he’s throwing,†Chad Williams said. “Only marginally so, though, because I’ve been with these kids for about five years, from the time they were 8 (years old) when I first met them. … It doesn’t matter who’s on the mound or who’s at bat, I’m nervous for them because I care.â€
The younger Williams has become quite popular in Williamsport. He’s done interviews on national television and is stopped frequently to sign autographs and pose for pictures — just like his Western teammates.
For a parent to see his 12-year-old son receive rock-star treatment is unique.
“I’m speechless,†Chad Williams said. “This is just unbelievable. That’s the only way I can describe it. There’s a reality, though, that he’s only 12. He’s only 12 and he’s being treated like he’s the next Nolan Ryan or something. There’s a lot of life left and lot of things that he still has to go through.â€
Topics: Garrett Williams |
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