The Journey Begins 09.03.11

The Little League World Series is a 16-team pool play baseball tournament held each August in South Williamsport, Pa. The teams consist of players who are between the ages of 11 and 12. It is one of eight championship tournaments put on by Little League International. The others are Junior League (13-14), Senior League (14-16), Big League (16-18), Little League Softball (11-12), Junior League Softball (13-14), Senior League Softball (14-16) and Big League Softball (16-18).

The first Little League Baseball World Series was played in Williamsport in 1947. Today marks the 65th Little League Baseball World Series and will be broadcasted live on ESPN.

A full schedule can be found at the league’s official website. Find Little League Approved Baseball Bats at Baseball Rampage.

After getting ejected for throwing at Chipper Jones on Friday, Carloas Zambrano cleaned out his locker and told trainers and clubhouse people during the game that he was “retiring.” Barry Praver, Zambrano’s agent, told ESPN The Magazine’s Buster Olney that the Cubs were told that Zambrano “definitely” wasn’t retiring. Praver said Zambrano made private emotional remarks to club staff and returned his things to his locker late Friday night.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, apologized to Braves general manager Frank Wren for the actions by Zambrano, which tarnished former manager Bobby Cox’s night. The Braves retired Cox’s No. 6 before the game.

“I feel that anything at all to detract from Bobby Cox’s night other than usual competition is totally intolerable, ” said Hendry.

Zambrano’s teammates have mixed feelings on the situation, but Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster wasn’t so understanding.

“He’s made his bed. Let him sleep in it,” Dempster said. “It’s not like it’s something new.”

Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez said Zambrano would be welcomed back by his teammates, but only if he made changes.

“If he changes his attitude, he’s more than welcome,” Ramirez said.

As riots spread across Britain for the third day, Amazon..co.uk aluminum baseball bat sales soared by 6,000%. Everything from baseball bats, police nightsticks, and other weapons are on the list of hot-selling items in Amazon.co.uk’s sports shop on Tuesday.

The top item, an aluminum baseball bat, gained a whopping 6,541% on its “sales rank” over the past 24 hours. Amazon’s “movers and shakers” list tracks items that are showing the biggest spike in sales that day.

Amazon.uk users posted reviews of the aluminum bat on Tuesday, referencing the riots with humor and caution.

“This bat is perfectly weighted and will suit any UK shop-owner looking to protect their property,” reviewer Harry Fish wrote about the suddenly popular Rucanor bat. “Thanks to the ergonomic handle, one easy swing should be enough to shatter patellas, skulls or any other bone on your targeted looter.”

“Ordered 2, one for home & one for the shop,” another shopper wrote in reply to Fish’s review. “Now lets see the idiots try & loot our shop.”

Read the full article at money.cnn.com.

**Baseball Rampage does not condone violence when using our products. Baseball Rampage does not ship outside the USA at this time.

Easton Power Brigade Speed Series is now available for pre-order at Baseball Rampage.com and ready to ship the 1st week in September. Available in Adult -3 Speed BBCOR and XL BBCOR, and Youth Full Composite Speed and XL.

Easton Power Brigade Speed Series baseball bats feature the lowest MOI (motion of inertia) on the market. This light swing weight generates more bat speed, allowing players to hit with more power in every at bat.

Hideki Irabu a former Yankees starter, has been found dead in his California home, according to USA Today. Unfortunately, it is suspected the cause of his death is suicide but it is not confirmed. Hideki Irabu was 42.

Hideki Irabu spent six seasons in major league baseball from 1997 to 2002 with a career record of 34-35 record and 5.15 ERA in 126 games (80 starts).

Irabu has had a troubled post-baseball career. Even though Irabu earned World Series rings in both 1998 and 1999 while with the Yankees, he fell far short of expectations of George Steinbrenner and was famously dubbed as the “fat toad.” He was arrested in Gardena, California last year for drunk driving. Back in 2008 he was arrested for assaulting a bar manager in Japan after allegedly consuming 20 glasses of beer.

He retired after the 2002 season. This a sad end to a seemingly troubled man. Our condolences go out to the Irabu family.

Milwaukee Brewer’s first baseman Prince Fielder’s 3-run blast off C.J. Wilson of the Texas Rangers in the 4th inning proved the difference in the National League’s 5-1 victory over the American League Tuesday night.  The win gives the National League its first back-to-back All-Star game victories since the 1995-1996 seasons.  Prior to last year’s NL victory, the AL had won 13 consecutive All-Star Games.

Adrian Gonzalez of the Boston Red Sox delivered the first blow of the game with a solo home run in the 4th inning off Cliff Lee to give the AL a 1-0 advantage.  However in the bottom half of the same inning, Fielder’s home run gave his team the lead for good giving way to a dominant display of pitching from the National League bullpen.  The American League failed to score the remainder of the game managing only 2 hits in the final 5 innings of 7 different NL relievers.  Tyler Clippard of the Washington Nationals recorded the Win for the NL while C.J. Wilson took the Loss.  Giants and National League manager Bruce Bouchy turned to one of his own, the bearded hero of last season’s World Series, Brian Wilson, to record the Save.  Prince Fielder received MVP honors for his game deciding 3-run home run.

The victory for the National League grants its World Series representative home field advantage for the 7-game series against its American League counterpart in October.

At Baseball Rampage, we believe our customers make our website one of the best, and your review is a part of that great experience. We need your help to make Baseball Rampage the best place to shop for baseball gear. We would like you to review the items that you have used, especially if you have purchased them on Baseball Rampage. As a special incentive, we’re giving away $100 Rampage Bucks Rewards every month good any product at Baseball Rampage.

To enter, submit a review of at least 25 words on a product that you have purchased. We will randomly select one winner each week from eligible entries. Reviews submitted that pass our editorial review and are at least 25 words will be eligible to win. Only one review per customer, per product, will be eligible to enter. The winner will be chosen at random from the eligible entries each month and the winner will be notified via email. Hurry, go write a review today and be entered in the July contest!

The Dayton Dragons have set the record for consecutive sellouts by a pro franchise in North America. An overflow crowd of 8,688 witnessed the 815th straight sellout at Fifth Third Field on Saturday night, when the Dragons surpassed the mark set by the NBA’s Portland Trail Blazers from 1977-95.

Once it became official, the game was stopped for an on-field ceremony with a long standing ovation. Streamers in the team’s green and gold colors were released over the crowd, and unveiled a plaque emblazoned with the No. 815 on the outfield fence. The Dragons are planning a larger celebration for July 23, and with more than 8,000 people on the waiting list for season tickets, the streak doesn’t look likely to end anytime soon.

“You can tell every regular was there, no one was giving away their tickets,” Daniel Renken said. “If you go down the third base line, you can see all the fans who are always there. And it was a great feeling to come down the line and say hi to every one of them.”

Fifth Third Field’s actual capacity is 7,290 fans and features 29 luxury suites.

Baseball Rampage would like to congratulate the University of South Carolina on winning the NCAA Division-One College World Series. South Carolina (55-14) is the first team to ever go 10-0 in an NCAA tournament and the first since Oregon State in 2007 to go unbeaten in a CWS. The Gamecocks have a streak of 16 NCAA tournament wins and 11 straight in the CWS, both the longest all-time. South Carolina is the sixth team to win consecutive national titles and first since Oregon State in 2006-07.

South Carolina won with the help of the Rawlings 2011 5150 Alloy BBCOR (-3) Adult Baseball Bat, running the bases in their Under Armour uniforms, and catching with Louisville Slugger Catcher Gear. All available at BaseballRampage.com.