Little Leaguers seize second chance for shot at Series
Tanner Beachy, left, and Bradlee Sumner, right, will join their Dhahran teammates in competing at the 2011 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Penn., in the U.S.
Members of the Dhahran Little League team take a knee during a break in play at the Regional Finals in Kutno, Poland.
DHAHRAN - An unusual twist of fate has the Arabian-American Little League All-Star Baseball Team representing the Middle East-Africa Region at the World Series Aug. 19 in the U.S. city of Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Players and parents thought their season had come to an end at the Regional Finals in Kutno, Poland, when the team lost 6-4 to Uganda in the championship game. However, irregularities in many of the Ugandan players' required U.S. visa documents put them out of the running. On Aug. 2, the president of the Little League extended an invitation to the Saudi squad to play in the 2011 World Series.
"We were pleased to have been extended an invitation as the representative of the Middle East Africa region," said travel team manager Neil Wilkey. "We were 4-0 in pool play with a combined score of 27-3, including a win over the Ugandan team. We think we will represent the MEA region well."
The World Series starts Aug. 18 with U.S. and International brackets narrowing the field through Aug. 28 when the World Championship will be determined.
The AALL All-Stars team assembled for practice in Florida and moved up to Williamsport on Aug. 13 to get ready for the squad's first game against the Canadian team on Aug. 19, which will be broadcast at 11 p.m. Saudi time on ESPN HD and ESPN3.com.
The All-Stars are aiming for victory, but they also are remembering the Ugandan team's misfortune, which gave them this second chance.
"It must be heartbreaking to be in their shoes, and I feel for the boys," Wilkey said. "I hope they can address the inconsistencies with the responsible parties so that other boys don't have to go through this emotional roller coaster in the future."
(Stephen L. Brundage)
