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2007 All-Star Selections

Posted by Brian Emanuels at Jun 16, 2007 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

Congratulations to the following individuals who have been selected as All-Stars by their peers and coaches for the 2007 season and nominated to represent Mercer Island in the Little League International Tournament.  Between 11 and 14 players from each age group will be selected to play in the tournament.  Players will be contacted shortly by the team manager (head coach) regarding a tryout and practice schedule.

12 Year Olds

Manager:       Kevin Peck

Mason Azose

Alec Bean

Neil Datar

Spencer Dillon

Andy Ehrig

Alex Emanuels

Max Graham

Beau Hibbert

Samuel Miller

Isak Morris

Joshua Peck

Stefan Peterson

Steven Petrie

Brian Rauzi

Joshua Reid

McKenzie Schlamp

Patrick Shay

Tyler Walters

Kaleb Wasihun


11 Year Olds

Manager:       Eric Rothenberg

Jack    Allenbaugh

Grady Burdick

Bennett Dammeier

Charlie Devine

Sam Eggers

Benjamin Furukawa

Josh Hartmann

Cooper Johnson

Zane Khatib

Christopher Lawler

Nick Nordale

Nick Panelli

Ryan Perkinson

Zachary Rothenberg

Michael Schaloum

Daniel Sims

Jacob Stenberg

Peter Welch

9-10 Year Olds

Manager:       Steve Stenberg

Peter Allenbaugh

Michael Bantle

Alex Bell

Carl Bell

Brett Bottomley

Cameron Coe

Michael Drucker

David Emanuels

Nathan Gallatin

Bryan Glant

Harrison Goonewardene

Max Hibbert

Ryan Hill

Brandon Lawler

William Mansfield

Jeremy Moss

George Pallis

Andrew Pickles

Aidan Plummer

Derek Sims

Josh Stenberg

Teddy van der Velden

Steven Woolston

Brenden Yan

AA Division
Note that there is no all-star tournament specifically for the AA division, however, the players below will be recognized as all-stars of the AA Division and will receive a Mercer Island Little League all-star t-shirt:

Luke Boksem

BJ Briggs

Caden Conder

Steven Duchaine

Noah Hsue

Griffin Kane

Alexander Men

Giebien Na

Eric Onrust

Anthony Pedreira

Scott Ramseyer

Riley Simpson

Lambros Syrmos

Drake Willard

 

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You Make the Call!

Posted by Brian Emanuels at May 9, 2007 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

 

“You Make the Call”

 

The following are actual situations that have occurred in Mercer Island Little League this season.  What’s the right call?  Answers are at the end.

 

 

  1. Runner sliding into 3rd base. Ball is thrown to 3rd and hits runner. Ball deflects off runner and into the parking lot.
    1. Runner is out
    2. Runner is safe and remains at 3rd
    3. Runner is awarded home.
    4. Runner is called for interference and goes back to 2nd.

 

  1. Batter hits ball which settles on home plate.
    1. Ball is fair
    2. Ball is foul
    3. Ball is dead
    4. Batter is out

 

  1. A batted ball first lands in foul territory a few feet in front of home plate and then rolls into fair territory in front of 1st base.
    1. Ball is fair
    2. Ball is foul
    3. Ball is dead
    4. None of the above until touched by a fielder

 

  1. Bases are loaded. Runner on 2nd leaves early. Batter hits a single. No runners are thrown out.
    1. Runner on 2nd is out
    2. Batter is out
    3. All runners return, including batter. Hit does not count.
    4. All runners advance except 3rd, who is removed. No run is scored.

 

  1. Runner on 1st leaves early. Batter hits a single. Throw to 2nd arrives after the runner.
    1. Runner who left early is out.
    2. Both runners are safe.
    3. Batter is out, runner who left early must go back to first.
    4. Runner who left early is out, batter is safe.

 

  1. Batter swings at a pitched ball which hits the batter on the hand.
    1. Batter is awarded 1st base.
    2. Batter is out.
    3. It’s a strike
    4. Ball is dead. No pitch.

 

  1. A pitched ball hits the ground in front of the batter and then hits the batter as he attempts to get out of the way.
    1. Ball is dead when it hits the ground.
    2. Batter awarded 1st base.
    3. Pitch is called a ball because it hit the ground first.

 

  1. Batter swings at a pitched ball and hits the catcher’s glove while the catcher is attempting to catch the ball. Batter misses ball.
    1. Batter is out
    2. Batter is awarded 1st base for interference
    3. A strike is called
    4. Delayed dead ball is called.

 

  1. Batter is walked. While batter is proceeding to 1st the catcher casually throws the ball to 1st. 1st baseman conceals ball in mitt until after the batter arrives at base, settles, and then steps off base. When the batter (now a runner) has stepped off the base, he is tagged by the first baseman.
    1. Batter-runner is out.
    2. Illegal play. Batter-runner is safe.
    3. Batter-runner awarded 2nd base for trickery.
    4. Batter-runner awarded 2nd base for defensive delay of game.

 

  1. Ball is hit between 1st and 2nd base. 2nd baseman charges toward first for the ball. 1st baseman gets to ball first and then runs back toward 1st. 2nd baseman’s momentum takes him into the baseline where he collides with the batter-runner but this happens after the 1st baseman has touched 1st base.
    1. Batter-runner is out.
    2. Batter-runner is safe.
    3. Ball is dead and replayed.
    4. Batter-runner is awarded 1st base for obstruction.

 

  1. Runner on second. Two outs. Batter hits a grounder to shortstop who attempts to field the ball in the baseline. While running down the baseline, the runner who is trying to advance to 3rd collides with the shortstop who drops the ball. Runner continues on to 3rd and then home where he crosses the plate before a dazed shortstop can make the play.
    1. Runner can only go to 3rd
    2. Runner is out
    3. Runner scores
    4. Runner must go back to second.

 

  1. While catcher is attempting to catch a batted pop fly in fair territory, the ball bounces out of catcher’s mitt. Catcher then extends his arm holding his mask and catches ball in mask.
    1. Batter is out.
    2. Batter is awarded 1st
    3. Batter is awarded 3rd
    4. Ball is dead.

 

BONUS:

A fair batted ball hits the base runner standing on 3rd base. What is the proper call?

    1. Runner is safe, ball is dead, batter awarded first base.
    2. Runner is safe, ball is live.
    3. Runner is out, ball is dead, batter awarded first base.
    4. Runner is out, ball is dead, batter is out.

 

 

 

Answers:

  1. c   7.05(g)
  2. a   2.00 Fair Territory
  3. a   2.00 Fair Ball
  4. d   7.13(c) ex.15
  5. b   7.13(b) ex. 1
  6. c   6.05(e)
  7. b   6.08(b)
  8. b   6.08(c) and 2.00 Interference(b)
  9. a   7.08(c) 
  10. d   7.06(a)
  11. b   7.08(b) and 7.09(l)
  12. c   7.05(b)

BONUS  c   7.08(f)

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Official Baseball Rule Myths

Posted by Brian Emanuels at May 9, 2007 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

Rule Myths

 

All of the following statements are FALSE. Read the explanations and rule references to find out why.

Top 40 Baseball Rule Myths
1. The hands are considered part of the bat.
2. The batter-runner must turn to his right after over-running first base.
3. If the batter breaks his wrists when swinging, it's a strike.
4. If a batted ball hits the plate first it's a foul ball.
5. The batter cannot be called out for interference if he is in the batter's box.
6. The ball is dead on a foul-tip.
7. The batter may not switch batter's boxes after two strikes.
8. The batter who batted out of order is the person declared out.
9. The batter may not overrun first base when he gets a base-on-balls.
10. The batter is out if he starts for the dugout before going to first after a dropped third strike.
11. If the batter does not pull the bat out of the strike zone while in the bunting position, it's an automatic strike.
12. The batter is out if a bunted ball hits the ground and bounces back up and hits the bat while the batter is holding the bat.
13. The batter is out if his foot touches the plate.
14. The batter-runner is always out if he runs outside the running lane after a bunted ball.
15. A runner is out if he slaps hands or high-fives other players, after a homerun is hit over the fence.
16. Tie goes to the runner.
17. The runner gets the base he's going to, plus one on a ball thrown out-of-play.
18. Anytime a coach touches a runner, the runner is out.
19. Runners may never run the bases in reverse order.
20. The runner must always slide when the play is close.
21. The runner is always safe when hit by a batted ball while touching a base.
22. A runner may not steal on a foul-tip.
23. It is a force out when a runner is called out for not tagging up on a fly ball.
24. An appeal on a runner who missed a base cannot be a force out.
25. A runner is out if he runs out of the baseline to avoid a fielder who is fielding a batted ball.
26. Runners may not advance when an infield fly is called.
27. No run can score when a runner is called out for the third out for not tagging up.
28. A pitch that bounces to the plate cannot be hit.
29. The batter does not get first base if hit by a pitch after it bounces.
30. If a fielder holds a fly ball for 2 seconds it's a catch.
31. You must tag the base with your foot on a force out or appeal.
32. The ball is always immediately dead on a balk.
33. If a player's feet are in fair territory when the ball is touched, it is a fair ball.
34. The ball must always be returned to the pitcher before an appeal can be made.
35. With no runners on base, it is a ball if the pitcher starts his windup and then stops.
36. The pitcher must come to a set position before a pick-off throw.
37. The pitcher must step off the rubber before a pick-off throw.
38. If a fielder catches a fly ball and then falls over the fence it is a homerun.
39. The ball is dead anytime an umpire is hit by the ball.
40. The home plate umpire can overrule the other umps at anytime.

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October 2005 - New Mercer Island Little League Announced!

Posted by Brian Emanuels at Oct 25, 2005 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )

The Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club, in conjunction with Mercer Island baseball and softball enthusiasts, is pleased to announce some exciting changes to our community’s baseball and softball programs effective for the 2006 season.  All Mercer Island residents interested in the future of MI youth baseball and softball are invited to an informational meeting on Sunday, November 6th from 4:00-5:30pm in the MIB&GC gym to hear about these changes and get their questions answered.

 

The centerpiece of this change will be the creation of a new Mercer Island Little League, enabling Mercer Island to join the Little League Baseball organization, the oldest and largest youth baseball program in America, which serves more than 3 million kids worldwide.  Mercer Island Little League, serving ages 5-12, will replace the PONY-based baseball and softball programs previously offered by the MI Boys & Girls Club.  By virtue of overlapping age brackets, and playing rules that are more suitable for youth players, we believe that participating in Little League will give parents greater choices, enable all our kids to have more fun playing together in a single league, and allow our most talented young players to be fully challenged without overwhelming those developing more slowly.   Little League participants at ages 10, 11 and 12 will also be eligible to represent Mercer Island in the exciting Little League All-star tournament at the District, State, Regional or even World Series level.  In addition, in order to provide even more challenging playing and developmental opportunities for the most competitive players, the MI Boys and Girls Club is creating a series of “Islander Travel Teams”, 1-2 teams each for ages 9, 10, 11 and 12, to supplement those players’ regular Little League program through inter-league and tournament opportunities both in-season and post-season.  Finally, we are developing an in-depth coach development and training program and an off-season Advanced Development Program to help our most committed players reach their highest potential.  Both of these programs are being developed in consultation with the high school coaching staff to ensure that a consistent instructional framework is applied from the youth through high school levels.

The Mercer Island Little League and the new Islander Travel Teams are being created in response to several factors.  First, there are a large and growing number of Mercer Island families who have chosen to go “off-island” for baseball, oftentimes in pursuit of more challenging, competitive playing opportunities than island programs have previously offered. By providing a comprehensive program better suited to both developing and competitive players, our hope is that these players will choose to play in these new Island-based programs instead and ultimately help to better develop and support Mercer Island’s youth and high school programs.  Second, the Bellevue/Mercer Island Thunderbird Little League, based in the Newport area, has grown too large by Little League standards and is no longer able to support both south Bellevue and Mercer Island.  As a result, Mercer Island residents will no longer be able to register in the Thunderbird program (existing Thunderbird players and their siblings will be allowed to continue in Thunderbird if they so choose – though we expect that the vast majority will switch over to MILL).  Third, the MIB&G Club’s addition last year of girls-only Tee-ball and softball has resulted in an explosion in the number of girls in our programs – but a shortage of quality opponents within a convenient distance to Mercer Island.  By joining Little League, the softball program will more frequently play teams on Mercer Island and from neighboring communities, again attracting larger numbers of players and teams.


Mercer Island Little League will be overseen by an independent, volunteer board of directors and will operate in close cooperation with the Boys and Girls Club.  At the meeting on Nov. 6, Mercer Island families with one or more children who played baseball or softball last season will be eligible to vote on a constitution, which will serve as the by-laws of the new league, as well as elect its initial board of directors.  If you are interested in serving on the board, please contact Brian Emanuels (BrianEm@Hotmail.com, 232-0556).  Beginning approximately Dec. 5, you will be able to register your kids to play in MILL and volunteer to coach, as well as sign them up to try out for an Islander Travel Team, all via the MI B&GC website:  www.MIPositivePlace.org.  If you are interested in coaching an Islander Travel Team, applications are due to Todd Bale by Nov. 15.  For more information on Islander Travel Teams, contact Jerry Goldberg (JerryGold64@aol.com, 275-1011).  Much more information about all the programs will be forthcoming via email and the MI B&GC website as the season approaches.

We are excited about these changes and look forward to sharing them with you and answering whatever questions you may have.  There are plenty of opportunities for parents and coaches to get involved to help us bring this new vision to fruition, from coaching, to umpiring, to serving on the MILL Board of Directors or as an officer of the league (many of which require little or no baseball expertise – just a desire to help create a positive, fun program for our kids).  We look forward to sharing those opportunities with you on November 6th.  In the meantime, if you have any questions, or if you are interested in volunteering, please feel free to contact Donna Eken (DEken@PositivePlace.org, 232-4548) or Brian Emanuels (BrianEm@Hotmail.com, 232-0556).

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Todd Bale                                                          Brian Emanuels

Executive Director                                              (Acting) President

Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club                         Mercer Island Little League   

 

MILL Board of Directors (acting):

 

Todd Bale

Dave Bennett

Kurt Boyd

Terry Coe

Meredith Cutting

Kurt Dammeier

Dick Ehrig

Donna Eken

Brian Emanuels

Gary Furukawa

Jerry Goldberg

Henry Hamilton

Dean Holbrook

Walt Ingram

Geoff Jiranek

Bill Lawler

Kevin Peck

Tom Pedreira

Tom Pellerin

David Phillips

Chris Pugel

Eric Rothenberg

Nate Walters