No matter where we are or what age we are, baseball players have always dreamed about playing on the "big stage," referring to the professional level, where only a handful of the select elite in baseball get to show their talents for the entire world to see. But for younger children aged 11-12 and 15-19, there is an alternative way to play on the "big stage," and as an added bonus, also to represent their country. No, I'm not talking about the Olympics; rather, I'm talking about the Little and Big League World Series.
While playing at such a young age may not seem like the pros, playing for your country must seem like a more glorifying opportunity. Kids gather in their own countries, competing for the handful of spots available for their region team, and if they do happen to make that team, all the regions gather in one spot: Williamsport, Pennsylvania (ages 11-12,) or Easley, South Carolina (ages 15-19.) And it is one of those two places where the teams duke it out for the glory and right to call themselves the world's best.
I've watched a couple of the Big League World Series games live at Easley, and while the atmosphere is nowhere near the level of which one could find in a professional baseball stadium, the amount of competitiveness and heart displayed on the field is equal, if not greater, than the pros. Each and every player carries pressure of representing their region in the world, and that drives each player to greater heights, which is displayed behind each and every one of their movements on the sacred diamond.
The support behind each region is enormous, with broadcasts being held all around the world, thousands watching their screens, anxiously watching to see the winner. I saw at both matches that I attended (Both games were being played by Asia-Pacific, represented by Chinese Taipei) a Taiwanese drum, flanked by a handheld gong and small cymbals, with each of those instruments being played with enthusiasm. The crowd of Taiwanese people were chanting chants normally only sung in the CPBL (Chinese Professional Baseball League.) The Taiwanese fan base drowned out any other attempt by other fan bases at cheering out their own team. And in the end, this year's Big League World Series Champion was no other than Asia-Pacific, represented by Chinese Taipei, from Taiwan.
The sole theme that I feel both the Little and Big League World Series captures is the sportsmanship and respect that all teams have for each other. Each team has their own play style, and it is always interesting to see which style matches up better. To see a bunch of kids running around, having fun while representing their own country is a captivating sight, one that shows the inner beauty of a program that brings together kids from all over the world, showcasing that it is possible to unite kids of different ethnicity and background, and to just let them play. In the end, after all, they're just kids trying to have fun.
