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A team who affiliated themselves with my local LL (Peachtree City GA) recently won the state championship and were scheduled to play in the Southeast Region Tournament starting this past weekend, however only a few days before the start of play, a committee from Williamsport suddenly and mysteriously disqualified the team, stripped them of their title and awarded the runner-up the birth. See the facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/peachtreecitylittleleague And the most detailed press report here: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2014/08/01/3227636/peachtree-city-little-league-ruled.html?sp=%2F99%2F164%2F165%2F It seems on the outside (how the league wants it) that they were ousted because of obscure technicalities, but I work in this league, and I saw this team in person. Fist off, this was Not a league team, or collection of league rec players in any possible way. This was a Very good Travel team(s) collaboration trying to crash the Big Dance. The "league" game I called for them this year was the most bizarre baseball game I have ever seen. It was a joke. The coaches of this team flat out told me that they were a collection of USSSA travel kids trying to make it to the stage of the LLWS. They, "Basically just have to play a few 'league' games to qualify". I felt like the league team was just a punching bag. This travel team used their own pitcher and catcher while on offense because, "We want some actual competitive practice" as well as the poor rec catcher could not handle the pitching. It was the least balanced game I ever seen, and from experience with this league, I know it is hilarious that they tried to pass themselves off as the level of play you can expect in Peachtree City, my absolute least favorite place to call a ball game because it will be Bad and Boring. This is not the way the tournament is supposed to work. Well obviously they were caught. I posted my experience of the "league" game on the facebook page and it was deleted. They are trying to pass this off as technicalities, but I know the true deeper problems. Rat behavior is Rat behavior, and I am ashamed this league tried to help the cheaters pull this off. My journalism piece for the year.

Whether you love or hate Little League, the next couple of weeks gives us a great chance to watch on TV those who choose umpiring as an avocation. These are folks that have, in many cases, been volunteering for 20+ years and were selected to umpire in the LLWS. They may not always be the "best" that LL has to offer, but they are among the most dedicated. Use this thread to post your observations - the good, the bad, and the ugly. There may be situations that need their own thread, but this is a good place to post things you see that you wouldn't start a new thread to discuss. Here's the full TV schedule for those who want to see some games: http://www.littleleague.org/worldseries/tvlistingsFULL.htm There are a bunch of regional games being broadcast over the next 4 days, with the LLWS starting up on 8/15.