By Jay Kitchen

Truly it is the time for the Boys of Summer, come the first week in August in San Bernardino, with the big show taking place at

Al Houghton Stadium in the foothills of the surrounding mountains.

The shadows of the valley will be the background for the final game of the Western Regionals on August 15, televised live on ESPN.

Once again the broadcast will be one of the few times in the year that the Inland Empire is broadcasted across a good portion of the United States. With the sun setting in the background ever so slowly come game time, the scene is one that can put a positive view on the area for those who are thousands of miles away.

The tournament again will send two champions to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, home of the Little League World Series. There, a team from America will compete against a team from the International group, with the winner being crowned world champions.

Southern California is no stranger to the World Series final game. Decades ago the late Ken Hubbs led his fellow Colton players, via a train ride, to a couple of finals back east. Long Beach Little League had success in the ’90s and Northridge also went deep not too long ago.

As of early this week, the So Cal representative had yet to be determined, but already plenty of other teams have punched their tickets.

Las Vegas Mountain Ridge LL is coming from Nevada, AZ Central LL from Arizona and Napa National LL is coming from Northern California. All of the mentioned teams will play out of the West Division of the Western Regional. So Cal’s tournament is always one of the last to be decided because of the number of teams in the region.

In the Northwest Division, Alaska Gastineau Channel LL will represent their large state and adjust to a new climate; North Boise LL from Idaho; Bolder Arrowhead LL from Montana, and Washington, which is sending Auburn LL, will also be there. Laramie LL will again play for the state of Wyoming.

The tournament begins this Friday and runs to August 15. The event is one of the bigger sporting events in the Inland Empire. While the area has two minor league teams in the Inland Empire 66ers and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, the purity of the game from the young players seems to appeal to baseball fans of all ages. And since the induction of ESPN’s coverage ago, the tournament has grown in many ways.

Along with the revamped seating in the stadium of a few years ago, the tournament is now more “fan friendly.” The hot dogs, snow cones and face painting are still around for additional entertainment.

The tournament began in1969. In 1971 it was still a small tournament, a four-team event. It has grown over the years and has evolved to a family event as well as a tournament. It is a big deal to the locals, and those who trek hundreds and sometimes over a thousand miles to see their son play. At times it’s like a picnic with a baseball game.

But there is one other subject that is displayed at the tournament. There is still a considerable gap in the number of African-Americans who play baseball. No fault of the teams here, but for whatever reason, baseball has not really caught on for blacks. Jackie Robinson and all, there is no right or wrong, just a gap.

There is one interesting fact when it comes to the Little League World Series and the Major League World Series.

He could have been one of the greatest pitchers of all time if not for on and off the field problems: the one and only Dwight Gooden.

The Mets won the 1986 World Series with his help, but the Florida native also participated in the Little League World Series. In 1979, he got his first taste of World Series experience. Goose is still loved in New York.

Years after that, and still in Florida, Gary Sheffied won a World Series for the Florida Marlins in1997 He too made the Little League World Series in 1980.

But the sheer fact that these young players are here is an accomplishment. All of these players will not even make a minor league team in the future, but they are here representing a state in a game they love. Few can say that.

The emotion will flow. While only a few will get on the plane to Pennsylvania, all will be winners.