This IS a Little League Blog Post

No don't worry, this isn't another post about the most "league" schools which will fuel a "stirring" 2 minute debate on why your school should have been in the top 5-or at least in honorable mention section. This is about the most innocent thing in the world...or what we thought was.

Little League. Tony the Tiger (don't worry the link isn't a picture of a Frosted Flakes box, click it) and your dad's favorite time of year is right around the corner with little league tryouts rapidly approaching. We all remember Little League as one of the best times of your life-at least I did. For instance 6th grade, or my final year of Little League, was a time in which "play dates" were playing a vital role in my life, tag was slowly losing it's lust of a way to attract girls, and getting a cell phone was in my near future. On top of all that I was able to put on a polyester uniform 2 nights a week and go out and represent my local town sponsor.

Everyone who played Little League baseball (or softball) has a memory from it. Don't lie, you know you do just think really hard. If you need some help here are some "triggers" that may stimulate your Little League memory bank:

That coach: You know him, you wish he was your dad, but at the same time you don't. This was the dad that not only wore strikingly small khaki shorts when the weather got warm, but he also had his on personal bat for hitting warm-ups with. All the players loved him, and they knew never to ask him if they were playing catcher next inning-probably because this coach had the positions already planned out on a spreadsheet hanging from the dugout wall. However when the game got into the 6th inning, this coach would be putting on delayed steals, bunt slashes, and other intricate signs that don't belong in town/recreational play (save it for the tournament big guy). But looking back on it, you realize this coach who showed off his "bulging" quads under his tiny shorts was a clown. Your memory is starting to bring you back to him jumping up and down after his team successfully completed a sacrifice fly that won them the game, nevertheless beating your team. Now you remember why you didn't want to play for him...

The Concession Stands: The concession stand was great because everyone was an All-Star at the end of the game. You could've struck out twice, had an "accident," and then made an error (at second base) to lose your team the game but who cares: free hot dogs after the game. You didn't need to worry about what "creation" your mom was making later that night for dinner because now that your game is over, your night will consist of 2 hot dogs, a red Gatorade, a Nerds Rope, 30 minutes of math homework, and finally 45 minutes of Gamecube. Sweet Dreams.

The Smack Talk: The most innocent smack talk in all of sports. For me, I remember sitting in class (with a substitute teacher obviously) and talking with my teammates and rivals about the game that night:
"So who is pitching for you tonight," says Player A
"[Insert name of Little League stud], but he can only throw 3 innings tonight," replies Player B
Player A starts to sweat because he is scared of fast pitching.
"He stinks, he can't even pitch good," says Player C, who isn't scared of fast pitching and also the teammate of Player A.
"Oh my gosh, are you serious dude? He struck out 11 guys last game," retorts player B.
Nothing like this smack talk, over a few multiplication problems...

Hitting a Home Run: The second greatest feeling, besides getting into college. For me I only hit one in my illustrious Little League career, so I remember the sequence vividly. Cam Brown was on the hill and threw one up and in... I didn't have "my bat" that day which had hit me plenty of doubles up to this point-but no home runs...the pitch was nearly at eye level...I took a mighty hack with this 31'' 17.5 oz bat and before I knew it Eric Fugleberg was digging in the woods for my lone Little League home run ball. The best part about Little League was that mechanics didn't matter in your swing, all you needed to do was get-a-hold-of one and before you knew it the opposing coach was complimenting you on the way you play the game during the handshake line.

Ok, no more. But Little Leaguers were celebrities during "tournament time" and not even getting grounded could keep you from feeling like you were on top of the world. I've been removed from Little League for almost 8 years so sorry if I got a little nostalgic, I know you're thinking about your career and memories right now so thank me later...

A shoutout to all my EGLL teammates and all other players out there who shared this as their favorite song "back in the day"...