As the best little leaguers around the globe set their sights on the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA, every invested player, coach and parent are looking for an edge. What can be done to prepare a young ballplayer for the best pitching they have ever faced? After all, you never know when you’re going to face the next Aukai Kea: Highlights of Kea's 15 K performance in U.S. Championship game vs. Georgia!
Kea was instrumental in leading the Hawaiian squad (representing the West Region) to the Little League World Series Championship last summer, particularly from the mound (3 starts, 2-0, 0.00 ERA). The young right-hander dominated hitters with a 75 MPH fastball from 46 feet away (equivalent to a 95+ MPH fastball from 60 feet, 6 inches) and led the team from Honolulu, HI, to the world championship over South Seoul L.L., representing the Asia-Pacific region.Defeating the talented squad from Seoul was no small task for the young men from Honolulu. After all, Seoul has reached the world championship game three of the last five summers (winning the title in 2014, while dropping the title game in 2016 and 2018). Led by the pitching of Yeong Hyeon Kim, Soo Hoo Choi and Ji Hyung Choi, the boys from Seoul only allowed four total runs leading up to their championship affair with Honolulu.
In preparation for the biggest game of their young lives, the Hawaiian squad knew that in order for them to have a chance against their worthy opponent from the east, one thing was inevitable. They would have to put the bat on the ball.
Hawaii’s Mana Lau Kong wasted no time getting his team going, hitting a lead off home-run on the first pitch he saw to give Honolulu a 1-0 lead. Hawaii would manufacture two more runs in the third inning, increasing the lead to 3-0 and setting the margin of victory. When it was all said and done, Hawaii collected seven hits and didn’t make any errors, while Seoul only managed two hits and made one error. Unsurprisingly, the team that was most effective in putting the ball in play was the victor.
So what can this year’s aspiring participants do to prepare for the next gunslinger to take the mound in Williamsport? Practice hitting with MaxBP!
In most cases, little leaguers are facing the fastest velocity they’ve ever seen during All-Star competition, particularly those athletes fortunate enough to advance to regional competition and the Little League World Series. In order to prepare for such gas, MaxBP’s offers velocity to match any young flamethrower, including the 95+ MPH heat that Kea was throwing last summer.
Facing a pitcher with incomparable off-speed stuff? No worries! The MaxBP Pro Machine features curveball, cutter and slider options with a right-handed and left-handed trajectory. This will prepare your team for even the nastiest breaking stuff: Filthy curveball from Puerto Rico's Braulio Flores in '13.
MaxBP’s small ball concept (training with golf sized wiffle balls), vision training (see MaxBP shop for Slow the Game Down vision training tools) and user friendly portability provide teams with an unparalleled competitive edge this summer. So, don’t waste any more time! Order a MaxBP pitching machine today and give your team the best opportunity to hoist the championship trophy in Williamsport. And check out some great drill here.