Series Notebook

BANGOR – The Senior League Baseball World Series is supposed to be something the participants will remember for the rest of their lives.

It appears to be living up to its billing, at least according to two members of the South Bend, Ind., contingent.

“It’s exceeded all of our expectations,” said South Bend coach David DeRam, whose team posted a 2-2 record during the round robin portion of the event being held at Mansfield Stadium.

“The tournament staff has been outstanding. The people of Bangor, they’ve been so nice to us,” he added. “It’s just been a great experience for these guys.”

South Bend’s John Davis, 15, said the trip to Bangor has been rewarding, and not just in terms of baseball.

“[It was fun] just hanging out with all the other kids from different countries,” Davis said. “It was fun talking to them, understanding their culture and everything.”

Even so, Davis has his sights set on a return trip to Bangor.

“It was a good experience,” he said. “We have a lot of 15-year-olds, including myself, so hopefully we set the stage for next year and we can go on and do better things.”

Davis’ suggestion for improving the tournament for the players?

“Air conditioners [for the dorms],” he chuckled after dealing with the 90-plus-degree heat and humidity this week.

DeRam couldn’t pinpoint any areas for improvement.

“I don’t think there’s really been anything that these guys have done wrong and that’s really amazing, considering it’s the first year they’ve done this tournament,” he said of the tourney organizers and staff. “I think this place has nothing but good things coming.”

Sportsmanship a priority

South Bend, Ind., coach DeRam displayed a different level of sportsmanship during Thursday’s round robin game against Manila, Philippines.

In the midst of Indiana’s 16-run, sixth-inning uprising, South Bend actually had an opportunity to wrap up the game by virtue of the 10-run rule.

With two outs and the bases loaded, South Bend had the opportunity to end the game when Manila reliever John Vijandre threw a pitch that went all the way to the backstop.

DeRam held Charleton Keultjes there, rather than allowing him to score. He repeated the move on an ensuing pitch.

“I believe at that point you have to drive runs in,” DeRam said. “I don’t believe in running the score up. I think you have to play the game with an ideal and you stick with that ideal, regardless of the situation.”

DeRam has been soured in his career by watching teams pound opponents mercilessly.

“You don’t need to show anybody up and you drive runs around when you get to that point,” he added.

One parent of a player on the Philippines team was heard shouting, “play like champions,” to South Bend, apparently not wanting to accept the gesture of fair play.

Manila got the final out and batted in the seventh inning to end the contest.

Manila also exhibited excellent sportsmanship on a couple of occasions. When Joannard Pareja hit South Bend’s Mark Bennitt with a pitch in the sixth, he jogged over to the first-base line and exchanged a hand slap to acknowledge the mistake.

Vijandre followed suit later in the inning after plunking Bobby Jordan.