Sr. League tourney a big hit

I’m a skeptic by nature, an honest-to-goodness cynic on those days that I’m operating on too little sleep, not enough caffeine, too much caffeine, too few hot dogs, or too much bile.

That’s why my expectations for the Senior League World Series were modest. And that’s why, six days after the world’s best 15- and 16-year-old baseball teams congregated in Bangor, I’m sitting here, shaking my head, and trying to get this stupid grin to go bother someone else for awhile.

The event lasted a week, but it provided enough snapshots to fill any mental photo album.

Like the names. For every Tom, Dick and Harry, there were plenty of cool ones. I’ll remember Atom Kobayashi and Miggy Corcuera. Arshwin Asjes. And Rubinet Koko.

I’ll remember Curt Smith of Curacao acting as an amateur translator of teammate Koko during a postgame interview. Two things made this oddly special: First, if the friendly Smith liked the question enough, he wouldn’t translate it. He’d answer it. And second, when questions did make it all the way to Koko, he didn’t respond in his native tongue to Smith. He answered in English, to the interviewer.

I’ll remember hot dogs. (I know, this is a recurring theme with me, but bear with me). The way I figure it, any tournament that orders 5,400 hot dogs to feed the masses is my kind of place. And when organizers realize that they’re not going to sell ’em all (I did my part, trust me), and offer a bulk-dog-rate of $3 for a dozen uncooked franks and rolls, I’m a fan-for-life.

I’ll remember the team from Spring, Texas, whether it wins the world title or not. Why? They acted like they were just glad to be here, and played like they belonged.

One groundskeeper claims that when the Texas stars showed up at Mansfield Stadium, the first thing manager Chad Watson did was drop to his knees … gather up a handful of grass clippings … and take a big sniff.

And Robby Gonzales. He’s another reason to love the Texans. After pitching Spring into the semifinals Wednesday, a clearly nervous Gonzales handled his own interview with style … and manners.

In a two minutes, Gonzales used the words “Yes sir,” 14 times. I counted.

I’ll remember Bangor’s entirely unofficial welcome wagon, which consisted of a bunch of 13- and 14-year-olds who play on the city’s Junior League all-star team.

First, they adopted Curacao, and used the knowledge they gained in junior high Spanish classes to mingle with players and parents alike. They bought Latin America T-shirts. They made signs. They chanted and whistled. And they made friends.

And I’ll remember Josh Young. All the Bangor pitcher did was step onto the world stage and throw a baseball better than any other hurler in the tournament.

He didn’t allow an earned run in two games.

Then, after his second-straight three-hitter fueled an epic Bangor win over previously undefeated San Pedro, Calif., Young ignored his own obvious role as the game’s star by saying something special.

If the same comment rolled off the tongue of a major leaguer, you’d dismiss it. But if you were one of the thousands who headed to Mansfield Stadium this week, you’d accept it as gospel.

“If we didn’t have our team, we’d have been without a win,” Young said.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.