Just enjoy the game

It seems some sports fans have a hard time accepting that. Instead of appreciating a game for what it is, they’re quick to judge.

This is becoming more and more evident with the Little League World Series, as there continues to be this perception that it’s not good baseball because “the best players player travel ball.”

I watch a lot of youth baseball. From the high school level to Little League, Babe Ruth, etc. I can almost guarantee that I’m one of the few non-parent adults watching these games. I know good play when I see it and the Little League World Series is good ball.

I have no doubt club travel teams have some phenomenal players. But I also know that there are a bunch of players who still act, behave and play like kids, warts and all.

And not every travel-ball tournament comes with the same pressures as the Little League World Series.

But why does that have to diminish what the players in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania are doing? I’ll admit I have a slight advantage when it comes to watching the Little League World Series games during the week because of my job. Not because I’m a sportswriter, per se, but since I don’t start my shift at the Daily Journal until the middle of the afternoon, I have access to the morning games of the series.

Wednesday was one of those days as I watched the International bracket semifinal game between Venezuela and Chinese Taipei, with the winner going to the International final and one win away from the world championship game.

Fantastic game. You had two undefeated teams that had yet to allow a run in any of their games. The Venezuelan defense was on point early. In the top of the first inning, the shortstop went to his knees, made a backhand stop of a hot shot and fired, late, to first.

Safe or out, it was a tremendous play.

The second baseman made a textbook pivot as he tried to turn 4-6-3 double play; the first baseman snared a smash line drive right at him. None of these plays were lucky, which is what some detractors think. These were all high-level baseball plays.

Around those defensive gems was a Taipei batting order that showed plate discipline seldom seen at any level. The starting pitcher for Venezuela did not make it out of the first inning, but it wasn’t because he had a bad outing. He wasn’t throwing balls in the dirt or sailing pitches to the backstop.

He was in and around the strike zone. He was nibbling and the Taipei batters weren’t batting, which took a 2-0 lead in the first inning without benefit of a hit, drawing a pair of bases-loaded walks.

The Taipei squad featured a flame-throwing pitcher, who lived up to his billing, pumping an 82 mph tailing fastball to strikeout the side in the bottom of the first inning.

And yet people call for the for the mound to be moved back. But I thought that’s what people love about baseball — velocity — and people still want to change dimensions to negate these kids of athletic feats?

Doesn’t make sense.

But the Venezuelan team did not flinch against a guy who threw 75 mph or faster eight times in the first inning. The kids from Venezuela were swinging the bat, making adjustments and making contact.

Venezuela was not overwhelmed or overmatched, as some critics would have you believe. It stayed in the game until the end. It ended Taipei’s scoreless inning streak at 23 by scoring three times in the fifth inning, but ended up losing 7-3.

I watched some of the U.S. bracket semifinal game between Connecticut and Nevada, and it was more of the same — good, solid baseball.

So it’s OK to enjoy the Little League World Series for what it is. Who cares if its not the top players? It good baseball and I’ve seen a lot of bad ball to know the difference.

Nathan Mollat has been covering high school sports in San Mateo County for the San Mateo Daily Journal since 2001. He can be reached by email: nathan@smdailyjournal.com.