It hasn’t happened since 2012. And it’s something we’ve almost become used to. But this summer, there will not be a Little League team, from San Diego going to the West Regionals in San Bernardino, the last step before making it to the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania.
Two San Diego County teams came close to make it to the regionals. Encinitas and Chula Vista Eastlake, but just fell short this week.
Since 2012, four teams from our county have made it to the regional with three of them going to the Little League World Series in Williamsport. And just eight years ago a team from Chula Vista won the Little League World Series.
So in other words we’ve become used to having in San Diego County some of the best Little League teams in the country.
In fact in some of these recent years, our local Little League teams have generated as much excitement as the Padres or maybe even more.
But of course Little League is different. In a good way. Yes it’s become competitive and can sometimes become too competitive. Especially among some parents. But overall you don’t see 11 and 12 year old Little League kids whining about things that some MLB players whine about.
They’re just having fun. And any parent of any kid who plays Little League baseball or soccer or any other sport knows that in the end, that’s what it is supposed to be about.
And that’s what makes these Little League kids champs even when they don’t make it to the championships.
(Photo Getty Images)