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Little League finals set

Melinda Mawdsley

— The Twins thought about scouting out Thursday night’s playoff game between the Devil Rays and Rockies as some sort of preview for Saturday’s Little League major championship, but manager Rich Hall had a better idea.

“I thought instead of that we’d get pizza and watch ‘The Sandlot’ and chat baseball,” he said.

After all, the Twins already have played the Devil Rays and Rockies three times this season, so there will be no surprises no matter who shows up Saturday.



The Twins, made up mostly of a core group of sixth-graders from Christian Heritage School, earned the trip to the majors final at 10 a.m. Saturday at Emerald Park after defeating the Pirates, 9-4, on Tuesday. The Twins and Rockies tied for the top spot in the final regular season standings.

Hall said he couldn’t have drafted a more enjoyable team.



“We’ve practiced three times a week and played twice, so they play baseball five times a week,” Hall said. “But after most practices, the kids just want to hang out and play baseball. They can’t seem to get enough baseball.”

Tommy Kennedy, 11, said he is looking forward to Saturday’s final and has a pretty good idea as to why the Twins were so successful this season.

“We all get along,” he said. “I think that’s one of the reasons we win.”

Tommy said he and his younger brother Billy Kennedy probably have spent every day at the diamonds this summer between major and minor league practices and games. Unfortunately, Billy Kennedy’s Yankees didn’t have much luck this season and are done, but he can still cheer on his older brother.

The minor league championship for 5:45 p.m. tonight at Emerald Park is set. The Cubs and Cardinals, after pulling off upsets earlier in the tournament, will meet in the finals. For all those diehard fans of Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs, it will be a great chance to turn out and watch what looks like mini-versions of the real thing play in an actual championship game.

The Cardinals made it to the finals after defeating the Athletics, 9-4. The Cubs upset the Phillies, 16-8, to make it into today’s finals.

More than 100 Routt County children ages 8 to 15 took part in Steamboat Springs’ Little League program this summer. All the games were at Emerald Park, which also hosts the senior league tournament for the 13- to 15-year-old players next week.

Steamboat’s Legion baseball team, comprised of high school-aged players, also played at Emerald Park this summer.

— To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208 or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com


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