Little League baseball team headed to World Series thanks to two MLB teams
The Petaluma Little League All-Star team is headed to the Little League World Series, and it wouldn’t have been possible without a little help.
The team, based out of Sonoma County, California, earned the bid to the World Series on what has become a controversial, game-ending play.
Clinging to a 7-6 lead over the Nanakuli Little League All-Stars from Hawaii with two outs and a runner on second for the Nankuli team, the Petaluma coach walked out to the mound to discuss the next batter with his pitcher.
As he got there, his third baseman told him that the previous runner had missed third base before heading home to score. The pitcher then threw the ball to third base to appeal the play, the umpire called the runner out, and the game ended in a Petaluma victory.
Replays were inconclusive as to whether or not the runner did indeed fail to touch the bag.
Regardless, Petaluma was headed to the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania less than a day later.
The only problem? The trip would be incredibly expensive for the families of these 12 and 13 year-old kids.
Enter, the area’s two MLB teams: the Oakland A’s and the San Francisco Giants.
These two teams, along with Comcast, donated $15,000 to the club so that the young players could reach their dreams of playing in the Little League World Series.
Kudos to these two ball clubs for stepping up to the plate and helping this Little League baseball team. After all, who better understands the dreams of young baseball players than those who have lived the dream themselves?
