I have been keeping track of the Elite 24 and the Banditos Black finally lost a game. They still have a chance to win the tournament. It was a great run.

http://www.usssa.com/sports/Tournament3.asp?TournamentID=471102

It was a run rule at that!

There have been quite a few upsets and surprises this year. I know in our age (14) I have been quite surprised by some games and many have been great battles. Always a fun treat to get talented teams together. My son is pitching the next game against a really tough hitting team. Yikes He's pumped up and excited and I'm nothing but nervous being 3000 miles away waiting for updates!!

BBFAM,
Are you playing the Dallas team or the Cali team? Hope it is the Dallas team. Half the fun in going to far away tournaments is playing against new teams.

We are playing the Nitro right now. Getting PBP from a parent while he's on the mound. So far 46 pitches after 4 and we are up 3-0. A real nail-biter for me. It's kind of funny, I have one parent on the phone and text messages coming. Hubby and son just got to Cooperstown and they will be starting in soon too!!!

Calgon take me away.

Ouch! Son made it through 5 with 59 pitches. In the 6th gave up a couple of hits and left with us ahead 3-2 (but 2 runner lob, 1 out). Finally game over. Score 11-3!!!!!! Went through 5 (???) pitchers that game. We're out. Tough game to lose. Oh well, tomorrow is another day. Cooperstown starts with son #2 That's the good thing about baseball, always another game.

Banditos should have been beaten in thier 2nd pool game vs. TX Hurricanes! Banditos Black were down 6 -2 in bot of 7 when the HP umpire flat out screwed the 'Canes!
Suddenly the strike zone shrank to the size of "quarter" behind the plate?? HP umpire choked under the pressure.The Tournament Director in charge of the Umpiring crews admitted that this choke job by HP ump, was exactly correct after the game. He also went on to apologize for the very poor performsnce by the ump!
Many coaches/players witnessed this travesty as well. All whom witnessed this travesty, including the Banditos coaches/players confirmed the atrocious job by HP ump by stating they were stunned, like everyone else, by the turn of events.
Yes, I am venting, but in an tourney event such as the Elite 24 this was a complete travesty and should never have been allowed to occur!

BBFam - My Son was the pitcher for the Nitro Elite. Your son pitched great. It was a good pitching game for 5 innings.

craftylefty--small world isn't it? I heard your son did a good job as well. I guess our sons played on the same team in Az. Memorial weekend 2007? Will he be in Compton in a few weeks? If so, we will see you there. I had heard he pitched well (at least through 1 out in the 6th ) but it's not the same when you can't see it.

BBFam - Son won't be in Compton. He doesn't qualify because of age. Good luck with the trials. Son went to Guatemala last year with USA Baseball and the NorCal boys. We might be in the area playing in a local tournament so we will try to stop by and visit everyone. How many NorCal players are coming down?

4 on the NCTB Stars team and I believe 2 on the at-large team. Hope to see you there!