Legion Down to Three

Tonight is the semi finals for the four teams left in the American Legion World Series in Shelby.  The 4:30 game saw Brooklawn New Jersey defeat Hawaii 7-6 to move into the championship game Tuesday night, as we speak Michigan is playing Nebraska with the winner playing in the title game Tuesday.

This year for the first time the World Series has not been a double elimination affair.  ESPN3 for the past couple of years have broadcast every game but this year for the first time ESPNU will broadcast the championship live.  In order to get ESPNU to broadcast the championship game ESPN required that the Tuesday night game be the championship game and there would be no chance of another game in case the undefeated team lost to the once beaten team.

The formula was created that all eight teams play three games over four days and the top four teams made the semi finals and the two semi winners meet in the final.  Not a bad formula but here we go again TV dictating  how people  had to run their tournament in order that TV would cover the event.

If you have been watching the Little League World Series you may have heard Sam Slaughter played for the Tennessee team. His great great Uncle was Enos Slaughter  or you may know him by the name Country Slaughter.

Country Slaughter was born in Roxboro NC and played 19 years for four different teams but he was one of the many players during world war two spent four years of his career in the war. He was a ten time allstar and in the annals of St Louis Cardinals baseball is about fourth all time in every offensive category.  He is in the baseball Hall of Fame.  Slaughter die in 2002 the same year that Sam was born so he never knew his great great uncle.

Saturday night Pat and I had to make a trip back home to Ahoskie to attend a visitation of Pat's second cousin who died in Mid week.  During our stay Gaddis Hodges walks in the door and I had  no idea how he was connected.  Come to find out my wife Pat and Gaddis are cousins three or four time removed.

Enjoyed our few minutes together you know as soon as we figured each other's association we spent time talking football as he is the voice of the Hertford County Bears which he has now I think this will be year 22  after I departed in 1993 he became the play by play voice. I have seen Gaddis three times so far this year and all three have been going back home to funerals.  Sure would like to see you Gaddis under more pleasant terms.