The rain game

Yes, the primary focus of the Little League World Series is always going to be baseball.

But that sport is not all that encompasses the experience in Williamsport for the players, coaches and fans.

Far from it.

In fact, the players from the Walpole American 12-year-old All-Star baseball team will tell you that before the first pitch was even thrown, there was already an international competition going on in another sport that features a white ball.

That would be pingpong.

And with yesterday's do-or-die game against Warner Robbins, Ga., postponed because of rain, the Americans have even more time to indulge in their newfound hobby. Walpole will face the Southeast representative tonight at 6 at Volunteer Stadium with the winner advancing to the U.S. semifinals and the loser going home.

The Americans found early on in their stay at the Little League dorms that they had a willing group of opponents in the Japanese players.

"Yeah, that's been really fun," said Walpole's Matt Bender. "We've actually been challenging them in pingpong tournaments. We've been playing with them a lot in the rec room and they're really nice kids."

Still, there must be the issue of a language barrier, although Brian Wolpe reported that one Japanese player actually does speak English. Either way, that obstacle never really gets in the way of a good time.

"We don't really talk," said Bender. "We just play, mostly."

So, then, the next logical question has to be which group comes out on top in table tennis.

"It's back and forth, really, but we have one good pingpong player here and that's Sam (Falkson)," said Bender. "It's pretty even, I would say."

As much as the games themselves, it's those interactions that will last well beyond this week.

"We've got some guys that figure that we're in Williamsport, so now we have to practice twice as hard, twice as many practices, get these kids ready," said Walpole coach Jared Ruggieri.

"The way we see it, we're going to keep our same schedule and let these kids take in some of this. Like Brian was saying, the international kids, meeting these kids from Japan, this is a great opportunity for these kids. They don't speak English and (we're) learning their customs and (they are) learning our customs. One of our guys went to give a handshake to one of the Asian kids and he gave him a hug. Little stuff like that. We just want them to soak all this stuff up."

"That's probably the first time I've really ever encountered people from other countries that speak different languages," said Tim Sullivan. "But we communicate all right. They only know a few words in English so we can't communicate with them but they're great kids."

Walpole American manager Brian Oberacker has enjoyed the atmosphere.

"When we're not playing baseball, we're hanging out, having fun, having a good time," he said. "We're meeting coaches, the kids are meeting kids from all the other teams. It seems like they're having a blast. A lot of things outside of baseball here to do, which is good. It keeps us busy."

As for his kids, he reports their activities are about what one would expect from people in their age group.

"They're out here watching all the games, trying to meet girls, working on pickup lines and just having a blast," said Oberacker. "We've got a lot of family and a lot of friends from home out here, so everybody has time to unwind and really explain to their friends and family exactly what this experience is all about.

"They say it's every kid's dream, but this is my dream coming into it," he continued. "It's been one heck of an experience. It will sink in when we get home."

But in the end, the Americans come back to baseball. Every night, before the day of each game, the players and coaches get together and watch "The Natural."

So far, these players have enjoyed more than one Roy Hobbs moment. Those, along with the ones they experience off the field, are also ones that they will relive over and over.