Make It Make Sense: A Little League Manager Decided To Intentionally Walk In A Run With The Bases Loaded And You Will Never Guess How It Turned Out
In between some great games and blown calls during all the regionals today, the one story that really stuck out was one I honestly wanted to wait to write because I thought I was dreaming it and it couldn’t be real.
Leading 4-0 entering the 6th, Lake Mary, Florida (the 2024 LLWS Champions) was already counting their pins and planning their flights to PA. Their pitcher Jacob Brown was cruising to that point but gave up 2 walks and got an out to begin the inning and then had to be pulled because he reached his pitch limit. The Florida relief pitcher gets an out but gives up a single and a walk - loading the bases with a 4-1 lead over Irmo, South Carolina. It’s at that point when things get very interesting or borderline stupid how you look at it.
Before I go any further let me explain that in Little League Lineups, the best hitter often hits 1st or 2nd to maximize their amount of at bats, especially since they have shifted to a rotary lineup where everyone bats. It’s assonine don’t get me started.
Florida is now up 4-1 with the bases loaded two out and South Carolina’s best hitter coming up in the 2 hole. Florida’s manager (who I distinctly remember being a wildcard last year) decides to INTENTIONALLY WALK Irmo’s best hitter making the score 4-2 with 2 outs and the bases still loaded.
Enter Brady Westbrooks … and exit Lake Mary,FL.
Irmo,SC are your Southeast Regional Champs.
Now I know the old adage of don’t let their best player beat you but I really really don’t know how you justify walking the kid there to make it a two run game. That one was really really bizarre to me. And the message boards alike.
Really really tough choice there and hindsight is always 20/20 but I don’t know how he could have walked him. Just a badddd decision. But hey - that’s why this thing is so much fun to watch - the unpredictability. Where else is someone INTENTIONALLY WALKING a run in to put the winning run on 1st base ? Only in Little League. i love the stupidity, I love that no game is ever over and I love that you’ll see something you never saw before. It’s a fun little run for 2-3 weeks in the summer.
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I’d like to remind the messages boards the “they are just kids” and we will not be addressing that the left fielder missed the assignment on “no doubles” defense.
I want it on record we didn’t bring that up… they are just kids.
Lastly, Florida beat this same South Carolina team 14-0 on Sunday in the regional. I got a bunch of questions on why these aren’t “true double elimination” tournaments and it’s been like that for a while. The main reason (to my best understanding) is that with the tv deals set up to broadcast these championship games in certain slots, they don’t have it set up that of a team needs to lose twice, they would then broadcast that second game. Also if you advance through with 2 quick wins you rest and set up your pitching so there’s an advantage there. Now don’t get me wrong, it absolutely sucks that this Florida team lost once and goes home. But that’s how the regionals and LLWS are set up and allow it to be on tv so “thems the breaks.”
Still in true disbelief he decided to walk that kid. My Lord what a decision !