BOYS LITTLLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES

As usual it’s a strong field of International teams emerging in what is the 75th annual boys Little Leage World Series at South Williamsport, Pa., that starts Thursday.

And despite political problems and threats of war and United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi going to bat for it in a recent trip to China, the No. 1 International entry is Taiwan. It’s a country that always turns in stellar baseball teams. and this one is no exception.

It went 4-0 in its Asia-Pacific Region, having two right tussles with host South Korea, and who it edged 1-0 in the championship game. Prior to that, Taiwan nipped South Korea, 2-1, to go with two shutouts over the rest of the field.

On the United States side, it’s tough to call, but there’s always a number of very good teams that arrive with hitting, fielding and pitching. One of which is Hawaii, which handily mowed down Northern California, Southern California and then Phoenix, Ariz., in the West Region final.

Texas East from Pearland was the first U.S. team to gain the WS and it twice got past main rival Texas West before topping surprising Tulsa, Oka, in the Southwest Region title game. Good team on defense and it fits right in with its splendid pitching.

Nolensville, Tennessee had two toughies it won over Virginia, and one over Louisiana, with the 6-3 triumph over Virginia coming in the Southeast Region final.

In the new Metro Region, New York from Massapecquia on Long Island, had just too much for close rival Toms River New Jersey, an came away with a 3-0 sweep capped by shutting down Jersey, 4-0, in the title game.

Massachusetts fought back after losing game one to Maine, 10-4, by clobbering Maine twice, one in the 13-2 New England finals’ contest. The team from Marlborough scored 20 times in back-to-back games leading up to the final.

Utah, from Santa Clara, made it in for the very first time in disposing of Nevada twice and also over Wyoming and Montana for a 4-0 record and a huge celebration for winning the new Mountain Region and getting to the big show.

Iowa, from Davenport, gained the WS for the first time since 1975 and did so by getting past unbeaten Missouri, 5-4, in the final after previously losing to Mo, 10-2, in the Midwest Region.

In the Mid-Atlantic, Pennsylvania lost its opener to Delaware but then charged back to defeat Delaware twice, the last time in the championship game, 12-2.

Washington had a tough one in the West Region before coming back in the seventh inning to rally and nip Oregon, 3-2, in the title game after the two played an earlier contest in which Washington was victorious 4-3.

Then there Indiana from Hagerstown, Ind., in the Great Lakes Region having to get past Kentucky twice, 3-1, and 4-3, and then Ohio, 5-4, in the finals. It was Indiana’s first trip to Williamsport since 2006.

Behind Taiwan are some real good teams, starting with the usual one that represents the Japan Region, the Caribbean champion, Mexico is a threat as well as the team that won Latin America, and don’t count out Puerto Rico, Italy or Panama.

And there’s more, with Canada, Nicaguaga and Australia also in the foreign field and all three shows improvement each year.

The International field plays its schedule until the title game, as does the United States, and then the two champions meet up in the championship game on August 19.