Old Town Little League concerns

In August, the Maine State Little League Championship will be held in Windham. It will be a great tournament, with many long-lasting friendships, along with a lifetime of memories, to look back on.

One major difference between this year’s tournament and most previous tournaments is the fact that the host town has chosen to run a double elimination tournament. As the host of this event, it is their prerogative to choose any format they wish. But after running last year’s tournament, and also our own Old Town All-Stars experience in a double elimination state tournament about five years ago in that same district, many downfalls to the format are evident.

In Portland a few years ago, the people from this district vehemently protested the format because of the problems with parents being unable to attend the whole tournament because of travel and jobs….

Another possible problem is the weather. With a double elimination tournament, at least eight games will need to be played, with the possibility of a ninth game…. Because pitchers are allowed to pitch in only a certain number of innings per game, probably one day could you play two games in one day. That means it would take at least seven days to complete the tournament. But what if it rains?… Instead of seven days, eight or 10 days could be involved….

Is it fair to the parents, coaches, and other volunteers who have already given up so much of their time to force them to fork over many more dollars for lodging, meals, and anything else that may come up? It probably wouldn’t have gotten to a nine- to 10-day event anyway, because of time restrictions placed on the tournament owing to the date scheduled for the regionals in Bristol, Conn.

What if the tournaments can’t be finished? Who would go to Bristol? You could say the team in the winners’ bracket. What if two teams were left in the winners’ bracket? What if two teams were left in the winners’ bracket? What next; flip a coin?… How do you think the poor kids who don’t get a chance to go would feel, not because they got beaten, but because they lost a flip of a coin?…

So many concerns about the double elimination tournament arise, and one has to question, why the push? I don’t know… I do know that no matter what happens, all the kids involved will experience a happening they will never forget. They will meet new people and new friends and have memories that will be cherished forever. I know of many host families from last year’s tournament in Old Town who still keep in touch with the players they hosted….

No matter what the decision turns out to be, our district will support it and make the most of it. I know how well things can go when you get support from everyone. Last year’s tournament will live long in my mind. The hard work involved, the coming together of the community, the support of the Old Town area businesses, but most of all the friends that were made and the lasting friendships of people from all parts of the state. That’s the name of the game. Judy Rand President Old Town Little League