"We think it is disturbing and reprehensible at best," Little League spokesman Lance Van Auken said yesterday. "There are plenty of things to bet on legally. People don't need to bet on Little League Baseball."
The betting operation is based offshore since such gambling activity is illegal in the United States, he said. It came to Little League's attention last week.
CURACAO 3RD: Curacao won yesterday's consolation game 6-1 over Saugus, Mass., to finish in third place for the second straight year. Tharick Martines allowed only an infield single by Craig Cole in the fifth. He struck out 10 and walked three.
Leading the winners were Kevin Moesquit with three hits and Jeandre Perreira with a three-run home run. The only run for Saugus was scored by David Ferreira, who walked, went to second on a wild pitch, went to third on Cole's single and came home on a double play.
Curacao started its regular lineup while Saugus reserves saw a lot of playing time.
MLB DONATES BIG BUCKS: Citing a concern about the lack of baseball opportunities for youth in inner cities, Major League Baseball yesterday contributed $250,000 to Little League's urban initiative program. York will be one of the 11 cities benefiting.
"For Major League Baseball, it's absolutely smart business," former National League president Leonard Coleman said. "Little League and Major League Baseball share a common goal of renewing the sport in urban America."
"There couldn't be a better partner than Little League," MLB vice president of community affairs Tom Brasuell said.
York will charter its first league in the fall. Some of the donation will be matched with a Rotary contribution to help upgrade four playing fields.
"The urban initiative is not limited to big cities," Stephen D. Keener, president and chief executive officer of Little League, said. "A lot of small- and mid-sized cities have the same challenges as the large ones."
STRIKE ONE: Gov. Ed Rendell got a gift from umpire Terry Gramling when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch. It was off the plate but Gramling called it a strike. His catcher was Andrew Weaver of the East Boynton Beach, Fla., team.
The governor's wife, Midge, a federal appeals court judge, did not go on the field but sat with him in the Howard J. Lamade Stadium grandstand.
SMITH NEEDS WORK: Ozzie Smith may be a Hall of Famer and all-star when it comes to baseball, but when it comes to blowing bubble-gum bubbles, he needs more work.
During pregame activities yesterday, he was paired as part of Bubblicious promotion with two youngsters to see who could blow the largest bubble. Smith lost to both.
!
The betting operation is based offshore since such gambling activity is illegal in the United States, he said. It came to Little League's attention last week.
CURACAO 3RD: Curacao won yesterday's consolation game 6-1 over Saugus, Mass., to finish in third place for the second straight year. Tharick Martines allowed only an infield single by Craig Cole in the fifth. He struck out 10 and walked three.
Leading the winners were Kevin Moesquit with three hits and Jeandre Perreira with a three-run home run. The only run for Saugus was scored by David Ferreira, who walked, went to second on a wild pitch, went to third on Cole's single and came home on a double play.
Curacao started its regular lineup while Saugus reserves saw a lot of playing time.
MLB DONATES BIG BUCKS: Citing a concern about the lack of baseball opportunities for youth in inner cities, Major League Baseball yesterday contributed $250,000 to Little League's urban initiative program. York will be one of the 11 cities benefiting.
"For Major League Baseball, it's absolutely smart business," former National League president Leonard Coleman said. "Little League and Major League Baseball share a common goal of renewing the sport in urban America."
"There couldn't be a better partner than Little League," MLB vice president of community affairs Tom Brasuell said.
York will charter its first league in the fall. Some of the donation will be matched with a Rotary contribution to help upgrade four playing fields.
"The urban initiative is not limited to big cities," Stephen D. Keener, president and chief executive officer of Little League, said. "A lot of small- and mid-sized cities have the same challenges as the large ones."
STRIKE ONE: Gov. Ed Rendell got a gift from umpire Terry Gramling when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch. It was off the plate but Gramling called it a strike. His catcher was Andrew Weaver of the East Boynton Beach, Fla., team.
The governor's wife, Midge, a federal appeals court judge, did not go on the field but sat with him in the Howard J. Lamade Stadium grandstand.
SMITH NEEDS WORK: Ozzie Smith may be a Hall of Famer and all-star when it comes to baseball, but when it comes to blowing bubble-gum bubbles, he needs more work.
During pregame activities yesterday, he was paired as part of Bubblicious promotion with two youngsters to see who could blow the largest bubble. Smith lost to both.
!
