COMMENTARY: Little League tourney needs changes

After playing Little League as a child, and yes there was a Little League back then, I'll throw out some suggestions that should be heeded. The first one is get rid of the mandatory play rule in all-stars. The whole notion behind all-stars is to win and advance. Even on an all-star team there are some players who are head and shoulders better than some of their teammates. A coach should only have to worry about winning a post-season game and not worrying about whether he makes everybody happy. Also, institute a dropped third strike rule, especially in the 11-12 age group. If the 12-and-under age group in softball can play with this rule, the boys should be able to. Another of my pet peeves is the special pinch runner. Heck folks, you already have re-entry in Little league. Why do you need a special pinch-runner? Ludicrous. I'd also like to see the pitch-count rule reviewed. Seventy-five pitches is fine for 9 and 10 year olds. I think an 11 or 12 year old should be able to go up to 95 or 100 in the postseason. Abolish the Hooligan and Renegade all-star squads. And, last but not least, institute a double-elimination District tournament at all levels instead of the pool play and single-elimination event now taking place.

• Let me start this thought by first saying I love the new Aces Ballpark. It's cozy and there isn't a bad seat in the house. But, I attended the Fourth of July game and saw a fan get pounded by a line drive behind the first base dugout. It wasn't the first time that a fan has gotten hit during a game and certainly won't be the last. I would urge the Aces to put up a net from foul pole to foul pole about 8- to 10-feet high. It won't totally stop a line drive from hitting a fan and causing injury, but it certainly would cut down on the number of times fans get hurt. I know part of the fun of going to a ballgame is to catch a foul ball, and that can still be done. All it will take is for one unsuspecting fan to get hit and die, and then netting might be a mandatory thing. Not all of this is the team's fault. Too many fans, especially the ones that don't watch a lot of baseball, aren't paying attention to the game at all. You see them talking to their neighbor or talking on their cell phone.

• Ex-Nevada All-American Nick Fazekas scored 22 points in 26 minutes for the Celtics in an Orlando Summer League game Friday. Fazekas was a second-team selection for the Orlando Summer League.

It will be interesting to see if he gets an invite to the Celtics training camp. Fazekas has the offensive skills to get the job done in the NBA. The question on Nick has always been his athleticism and defense.