Teams in the inaugural Intermediate Little League World Series will begin playing ball Tuesday at Max Baer Park. Livermore has always been a wholesome family-oriented community and that continues this week. Monday evening, the teams paraded down First Street, ending with a rally at the Bankhead Theatre.
People should get used to the sound of baseball in Livermore, along with the site of earnest, young teenage faces, because when they say a World Series has come to town, they mean it. Teams traveled from places like Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Arizona, and Michigan among other. Some came from as close as Pleasanton, others from as far away as Japan.
In Livermore, they're hoping to make this an every year event. "It will get bigger over the years," one of the players told ABC7 News. Welcome to the post-Williamsport era. It's not so much Little League, but what they now call Intermediate League. It's the same organization and same format, but a bigger game played on bigger diamonds.
"This year, we're going to try to to redeem ourselves," said 13-year-old Robert Mchenry. He's from Houston, Texas and plays for the Post Little League All Stars. They barely missed Williamsport last year when they were younger.
This inaugural Intermediate Little League World Series in Livermore gives these kids who have played together since they were 8-years-old another shot.
Asked if they were all friends, McHenry replied, "Yes sir." Asked if he calls everyone sir, he said again, "Yes sir."
It really is that clean and wholesome. There's no money, no agents, and no steroids involved, just good, clean baseball beginning Tuesday and going through next Monday.
