The Bear Bitch’s Project

I’ve never been a baseball fan: in fact, my knowledge of the game was limited to that which can be learned from watching Charlie Brown’s All Stars. So why on earth, you ask, would I take a week off from work to fly across the country to "Middle-of-Nowhere", Michigan, to watch the Little League World Series?

Well, the Philippine team won the Asia Pacific regional championships (for the very first time, mind you!), and thus, the right to represent the region at the World Series.

Of course, exciting as that may be, that isn’t exactly enough for me to endure 9 hours on a plane (4 1/2 each way), approximately 35 hours at a dusty baseball field, extra-strength sunblock induced rashes, a swarm of bumble bees, a tan, a 1-star hotel room that smelled like stale cigarettes, and sore muscles. I am extremely patriotic, but I have my limits.

No, I endured all that and more because my god-son/nephew, Leandro, is on the team!

** Warning! Proud, gushing tita alert**

He’s one of the youngest and smallest on the team so he was in the field most of the time, but that didn’t stop me from taking a boat-load of photos, cheering my voice away, and wearing a red heart with the #4 on my cap. The poor boy was so embarrassed but what’s new? At 13, all your relatives embarrass you no matter what they do, right?

"I love you, # 4 !"

Though they didn’t win the "World Champion" title, they did win the International division as well as make history on many accounts:

- They are the first Philippine team to represent Asia Pacific (and thus, the first Philippine team to ever play in the Junior League World Series).

- The first Asia Pacific team to ever win more than one game.

- The first International Champion to reach the finals undefeated.

"International Little League Association of Manila, representing Asia-Pacific, topped the International Pool with a 4-0 record beating Canada region’s Whalley L.L. of Surrey, British Columbia, 8-1, in the semis to earn the right of facing Hawaii in the finals.
It was also the first time that an Asia-Pacific regional champion won more than one game in the Junior League World Series since joining in 1999.
The Philippines scored wins over Puerto Rico, 6-0; Canada, 6-2; Latin America, 6-1; and Europe-Middle East-Africa, 11-0, in International Pool play."

In spite of the pesky bees, suntan, rashes, and crummy hotel, I had SO MUCH FUN. I learned a lot about baseball (though not enough to make me a true fan), I screamed and cheered and clapped and stomped until the bleachers trembled, I got to hang out with my mom, sister, brother-in-law, and nephew, and most of all, I got to support a great team.

The boys played so, so well and were true to the cheer: "Pilipinas: Puso at Galing!" - everyone is so proud of them. I’m sure I’ll be booking another trip to Michigan next year.