Little league, big dreams

The Little League World Series is almost at hand, but before the wee tykes descend on Williamsport, PA for the 65th edition of the event beginning Aug. 18, there’s some unfinished business in North Vancouver. This Saturday in Vancouver’s Memorial Park Canada’s representative for the LLWS will be determined, and for the first time ever, the game will be televised live on Sportsnet ONE at 4 p.m. ET.

Sure, it’s not the Olympics or the world juniors, but it is to these kids and their passion, emotion (and yes, sometimes tears) is what makes the LLWS good television. That and watching a 12-year-old drop a perfect, 12-6 curveball you secretly know you’d have no chance of hitting. Admit it.

Watch: The Canadian Little League Championship can be seen Saturday, August 13 at 4 p.m. ET on Sportsnet ONE.

The tournament has produced a number of current Canadian big leaguers including Justin Morneau, Ryan Dempster and Rich Harden. Provincial baseball powerhouse B.C. (represented this year by a squad from Brett Lawrie’s hometown of Langley) has won the event the past years, and by at least one account, the upgrades to Vancouver’s Memorial Park have turned it into a little league gem.

A League of their Own? No need.

Ian Walker of Postmedia news has this fine item looking back at the history of girls’ participation in the LLWS.

As you might imagine, the red carpet wasn’t exactly rolled out for them.

Spydome latest

As much you might be tired of hearing about it, by now, the #Spydome story that originated in an ESPN the Magazine article this week, isn’t going to go away anytime soon. Ex-Blue Jays arriving in town with visiting teams (see Vernon Wells and Scott Downs this weekend), will be asked about, as will the Chicago White Sox when the Blue Jays play them—in September! Of course, the story was and continues to be a gold mine for twitter comedians, bloggers and purveyors of tin foil. One of our favourite spawns of the controversy, however, has been the new twitter account: @jaysfaninwhite.

A sampling:

Worried about my boy @vernonwells10 being back. Gotta rework the signs; dude fields like a gazelle but remembers like an elephant. #Jays

Working on some new signs 1 of which involves an elaborate dance routine with Jamie Campbell and a rabid aardvark. #Jays

@ShiDavidi I'll be lurking somewhere behind you letting AA know what questions are coming next. One arm waving means Griff is about to talk.

A blog on America's national past-time from a Canadian perspective.