2009 Little League World Series
Template:Infobox Little League World Series
The 2009 Little League World Series was the 63rd edition of the championship tournament for Little League baseball, held in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, from August 21 through August 30, 2009. Eight teams from the United States and eight from the rest of the world competed in the tournament. In the championship game, the United States champions, from Chula Vista, California, defeated the international champions from Taoyuan County, Taiwan. This was the first tournament in which a team representing Chinese Taipei reached the championship game since 1996, and the first championship for a team from the state of California since 1993.
Activision released a video game in advance of the event, Little League World Series Baseball 2009.
Teams
- Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, due to complicated relations with People's Republic of China, is recognized by the name Chinese Taipei by majority of international organizations including Little League Baseball (LLB). For more information, please see Cross-Strait relations.
Results
Pool play
The top two teams in each pool moved on to their respective semifinals. The winners of each met on August 30 to play for the Little League World Championship. Teams marked in green qualified to the knockout stage, while the remaining teams were eliminated.
Ties were broken based on records in head-to-head competition among tied teams. In the event of a three-way tie for first place, the tie was broken by calculating the ratio of runs allowed to defensive innings played for all teams involved in the tie. The team with the lowest runs-per-defensive-inning ratio was ranked first and advanced. Second place was determined by the head-to-head result of the other two teams. If the three-way tie was for second place, the runs-per-defensive-inning ratio rule was used. The team with the lowest run ratio advanced; the other two teams were eliminated.[1]
United States
| Rank | Region | Record | Runs Allowed | Defensive Innings | Run Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Georgia
|
3–0 | 8 | 18 | 0.444 |
| 2 |  New York
|
2–1 | 11 | 18 | 0.611 |
| 3 |  Iowa
|
1–2 | 22 | 18 | 1.222 |
| 4 |  Washington
|
0–3 | 18 | 18 | 1.000 |
| Rank | Region | Record | Runs Allowed | Defensive Innings | Run Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Texas
|
3–0 | 4 | 16 | 0.250 |
| 2 |  California
|
2–1 | 6 | 17 | 0.353 |
| 3 |  Massachusetts
|
1–2 | 27 | 17 | 1.588 |
| 4 |  Kentucky
|
0–3 | 39 | 13 | 3.000 |
All times US EDT.
| Pool | Away | Score | Home | Score | Time (Venue) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 21 | ||||||
| A | New York
|
10 | Washington
|
2 | 1:00 pm (Volunteer Stadium) | |
| A | Georgia
|
11 | Iowa
|
3 | 5:00 pm (Volunteer Stadium) | |
| B | Massachusetts
|
1 | Texas
|
10 | 8:00 pm (Lamade Stadium) | |
| August 22 | ||||||
| A | Georgia
|
6 | New York
|
3 | 3:00 pm (Lamade Stadium) | |
| B | Kentucky
|
0 | California
|
15 (F/5) | 8:00 pm (Lamade Stadium) | |
| August 23 | ||||||
| A | Washington
|
3 | Iowa
|
5 | Noon (Lamade Stadium) | |
| B | Kentucky
|
0 | Texas
|
12 (F/4) | 2:00 pm (Volunteer Stadium) | |
| B | California
|
14 | Massachusetts
|
0 | 6:00 pm (Volunteer Stadium) | |
| August 24 | ||||||
| A | Georgia
|
3 | Washington
|
2 | 4:00 pm (Lamade Stadium) | |
| A | New York
|
8 | Iowa
|
3 | 8:00 pm (Lamade Stadium) | |
| August 25 | ||||||
| B | Kentucky
|
3 | Massachusetts
|
12 | 4:00 pm (Volunteer Stadium) | |
| B | Texas
|
6 | California
|
3 | 8:00 pm (Lamade Stadium) | |
International
| Rank | Region | Record | Runs Allowed | Defensive Innings | Run Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Curaçao
|
3–0 | 15 | 18 | 0.833 |
| 2 |  Japan
|
2–1 | 18 | 18 | 1.000 |
| 3 |  Saudi Arabia
|
1–2 | 9 | 16 | 0.813 |
| 4 |  Venezuela
|
0–3 | 12 | 16 | 0.750 |
| Rank | Region | Record | Runs Allowed | Defensive Innings | Run Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Mexico
|
3–0 | 3 | 17 | 0.176 |
| 2 |  Chinese Taipei
|
2–1 | 3 | 16 | 0.188 |
| 3 |  Canada
|
1–2 | 23 | 18 | 1.278 |
| 4 |  Germany
|
0–3 | 43 | 14 | 3.071 |
All times US EDT.
| Pool | Away | Score | Home | Score | Time (Venue) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 21 | ||||||
| D | Chinese Taipei
|
16 | Germany
|
0 (F/4) | 3:00 pm (Lamade Stadium) | |
| August 22 | ||||||
| D | Canada
|
1 | Mexico
|
2 (F/7) | 11:00 am (Lamade Stadium) | |
| C | Venezuela
|
1 | Curaçao
|
2 | 1:00 pm (Volunteer Stadium) | |
| C | Saudi Arabia
|
2 | Japan
|
5 | 6:00 pm (Volunteer Stadium) | |
| August 23 | ||||||
| D | Canada
|
0 | Chinese Taipei
|
8 | 3:00 pm (Volunteer Stadium) | |
| C | Japan
|
11 | Curaçao
|
12 | 8:00 pm (Lamade Stadium) | |
| August 24 | ||||||
| D | Mexico
|
13 | Germany
|
0 (F/4) | Noon (Lamade Stadium) | |
| C | Venezuela
|
4 | Japan
|
5 | 2:00 pm (Volunteer Stadium) | |
| C | Saudi Arabia
|
3 | Curaçao
|
5 | 6:00 pm (Volunteer Stadium) | |
| August 25 | ||||||
| C | Venezuela
|
3 | Saudi Arabia
|
5 | Noon (Lamade Stadium) | |
| D | Canada
|
14 | Germany
|
13 | 2:00 pm (Volunteer Stadium) | |
| D | Mexico
|
3 | Chinese Taipei
|
2 | 6:00 pm (Volunteer Stadium) | |
Elimination round
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| August 26 – 4:00 pm – Lamade | ||||||||||
| C2 Japan | 0 | |||||||||
| August 29 – Noon – Lamade | ||||||||||
| D1 Mexico | 6 | |||||||||
| Mexico | 4 | |||||||||
| August 27 – 4:00 pm – Lamade | ||||||||||
| Chinese Taipei | 9 | |||||||||
| D2 Chinese Taipei | 5 | |||||||||
| August 30 – 3:00 pm – Lamade | ||||||||||
| C1 Curaçao | 2 | |||||||||
| Chinese Taipei | 3 | |||||||||
| August 26 – 8:00 pm – Lamade | ||||||||||
| California | 6 | |||||||||
| A2 New York | 1 | |||||||||
| August 29 – 7:00 pm – Lamade (F/4) | ||||||||||
| B1 Texas | 4 | |||||||||
| Texas | 2 | |||||||||
| August 27 – 8:00 pm – Lamade | ||||||||||
| California | 12 | Third place | ||||||||
| B2 California | 11 | |||||||||
| August 30 – 11:00 am – Volunteer | ||||||||||
| A1 Georgia | 10 | |||||||||
| Mexico | 5 | |||||||||
| Texas | 4 | |||||||||
The United States championship game on August 29 was originally scheduled for 3:00 pm US EDT. After a pair of lengthy rain delays in the international championship game, maintenance required to repair the field for the next game, and to make sure the field was dry enough to play on, it was rescheduled for later that night.
| 2009 Little League World Series Champions |
|---|
  Park View Little League Chula Vista, California |
Champions Path
The Park View Little League won 18 games and lost 2 games to reach the Little League World Series.[2][3][4] Overall, their record was 23–3. Their three losses came against Sweetwater Valley LL, Torrance LL (both from California), and McAllister Park American LL (from Texas). Park View became the ninth team and most recent from San Diego County to qualify for the Little League World Series as the last one was Vista, California in 2005. They also were the third team from San Diego County in the past nine years to qualify for the Little League World Series.[5] During the West Regional the team hit 34 home runs in total and was accused of cheating. A Little League Official looked into the allegations but found no evidence to back them up.[6]
| Round | Opposition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| District 42 | ||
| Winner's Bracket Quarterfinals | Luckie Waller LL |
16–0 |
| Winner's Bracket Semifinals | Imperial Beach LL |
17–1 |
| Winner's Bracket Finals | Sweetwater Valley LL |
8–1 |
| District 42 Championship | Sweetwater Valley LL |
7–10 |
| District 42 Championship | Sweetwater Valley LL |
8–2 |
| Section 7 | ||
| Section 7 Group Stage | Brawley LL |
8–5 |
| Section 7 Group Stage | Rancho San Diego LL |
9–1 |
| Section 7 Group Stage | Lemon Grove LL |
5–3 |
| South California Divisional | ||
| Winner's Bracket Semifinals | Corona National LL |
14–4 |
| Winner's Bracket Finals | Rancho Santa Margarita LL |
5–4 (7 inn.) |
| South Sub-Divisional Championship | Rancho Santa Margarita LL |
16–1 |
| South Championship | Torrance LL |
0–18 (4 inn.) |
| South Championship | Torrance LL |
7–6 |
| South Championship | Torrance LL |
19–12 |
| West Regional | ||
| Group Stage |  Cedar American LL |
27–1 (4 inn.) |
| Group Stage |  Central East Maui LL |
15–2 (4 inn.) |
| Group Stage |  Arrowhead LL |
20–1 (4 inn.) |
| Group Stage |  Legacy LL |
10–5 |
| Semifinals | Legacy LL |
15–2 (4 inn.) |
| West Region Championship | Lakeside LL |
11–4 |
Legacy
The City of Chula Vista organized a celebration parade for the team with the team riding on a fire engine which led them to a rally at Southwestern College. They received a congratulations from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.[7] The team also met President Barack Obama in Washington D.C. and gave him a team jersey, team plaque and the key to the City of Chula Vista.[8] A book was written about the Chula Vista team called The Blue Bombers: The True Story of the 2009 Little League World Champions, written by San Diego County Residents.[9] A memorial wall was proposed to commemorate the team in Chula Vista.[10] The team also appeared on The Tonight Show hosted by Conan O'Brien.[11] The team was honored at San Diego Padres and Chargers games.[12][13]
References
- ^ Sconnolley. "Microsoft Word – pool play-general.doc" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 7, 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2009.
- ^ "Southern California District Tournament Results". Unpage.com. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ "Southern California Divisional Tournament". Unpage.com. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ "West Region Tournament". Unpage.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ "Chula Vista team wins shot at Little League World Series". signonsandiego.com. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
- ^ "Official: Park View home runs are legit". signonsandiego.com. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
- ^ "Hero's Welcome Greets Chula Vista Little League Champs". 10news.com. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ^ "Park View All-Stars Visit White House, Meet Obama". 10news.com. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ^ "New book out on Park View Little League champs". signonsandiego.com. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ^ "Champions Wall proposed". thestarnews.com. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ^ "Park View Little league Homecoming celebration tonight in Chula Vista". sdentertainer.com. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ^ "Hundley draws bases-loaded walk in 10th to lift Padres over Rockies". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved January 28, 2011.
- ^ "World champs enjoy day with Chargers". chargers.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2011.