The T-shirts worn by fans and parents of the Cal Ripken World Series entrant from Oakland, Calif., let it be known: speed kills.
If that?s the case, Oakland?s competitors in the American Division are in trouble.
“We really promote that and the guys really believe in it,” Oakland coach Eddie Abram said.
Oakland displayed its in Friday?s skills competition, as its relay team won the baserunning challenge in 25.31 seconds ? better than a half-second faster than second-place Mexico.
“We?re real fast,” Oakland infielder David Sumisaki said.
The team uses its speed to put pressure on defenses by wreaking havoc on the basepaths, hoping to capitalize on every opportunity.
“At this level,” Abram said, “the team to make the fewest mistakes is the guy going to win.”
On Tuesday, Oakland had a chance to qualify for Thursday?s elimination round, but suffered a 9-7 loss to Bryant, Ark., after Bryant scored runs in each of the final four innings to rally.
“If we want to win this thing,” Abram said, “these are the kind of games we have to win.”
At2-2, Oakland (2-2) needs Connecticut to beat Washington today at 11 a.m. to have a chance to advance out of pool play along with Bryant, Ark. Oakland has won eight 12-and-under Babe Ruth League titles, including four straight from 1984-87.
Since the inception of the Cal Ripken World Series ? now in its eighth year ? Hawaii has dominated the Pacific Southwest Region, which it has used as a springboard to claim the past two Cal Ripken World Series titles.
“Hawaii had to beat us twice last year, and they did,” Abram said. “They ended up winning that game and going on to win the World Series.”
However, Oakland?s players are confident the title will remain in the region.
“We?ve got a lot of potential,” Sumisaki said. “We just need to hit the ball like we have these past few games and we?ll win.”
