Minnesota team’s girl infielder prefers to keep low profile

Albuquerque ump, Post 13 prepare for World Series

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Maddy Freking’s left foot points back toward home plate as she assumes her stance inside a mesh batting cage on the grounds of Little League headquarters. The bat head swivels slightly as she stands tall, with that angled left foot helping her stay square to the pitch when it comes.

Details like that are what Freking focuses on.

Another one — the long, blonde ponytail poking out from her helmet as she rips liners into the netting — may pique fans’ interest over the next week or so.

Freking is the starting second baseman on a team from Coon Rapids, Minn., that will represent the Midwest Region in the Little League World Series, which starts today.

She’ll become just the 19th girl in history to play in the 72-year history of the Little League World Series, and the first since 2014, the year Mo’ne Davis pitched her way onto the cover of Sports Illustrated.

Minnesota will play opening day against a team from Bowling Green, Ky., representing Great Lakes.

“Some people say, ‘Woah,’” Freking said of the reaction she’s received. “Some think it’s cool, some not so much.”

Freking’s gender hasn’t attracted too much attention yet, and she seems indifferent to whether it ever does. She doesn’t like having her picture taken, she said. And in interviews, she’s concise and to the point — like a lot of 12-and-under Little League players.

Still, Freking and Minnesota manager Greg Bloom have formulated a plan of action as the attention ramps up.

“She’s done well so far,” Bloom said. “We told her if it gets to be too much, just let us know, us coaches, and we’ll try to tell people to take a break. But I’ve warned her to expect to get a lot of attention. This doesn’t happen very often.”

STOLEN SIGNS? Sign stealing is as old as baseball itself. It’s a wily act of espionage, generally tolerated as part of baseball’s famous “unwritten rules.” But in Little League baseball, the practice is, in fact, part of the rule book. It’s strictly illegal.

Now a manager of a team that came up just short of reaching the World Series is accusing a rival team of violating those rules.

Pat Dutton, who coaches the New Hampshire champion Goffstown Little League, said players from Rhode Island’s Barrington Little League stole signs during the New England regional final last Saturday. He called the alleged reconnaissance “unsportsmanlike,” “dishonorable” and “disgusting” in an article published this week in the New Hampshire Union Leader.

Barrington Little League, the New England champion which begins World Series play today vs. South Riding, Va., denied the accusations and said they were “unfortunate” and that the article’s premise was “false.”

“We hold our coaches, players and teams to the highest standards, and do not coach or condone unsportsmanlike behavior of any kind,” the Rhode Island group said in a statement (via Boston.com).

Little League International did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

ALBUQUERQUE UMP: Mario Martinez, 42 and the chief umpire for District 8 in New Mexico, is one of the 16 umpires this year in Williamsport. Other New Mexicans to work the World Series in the past: Steve Mecham and Rene Sedillo from District 5 and Bruce Dinkel, Sen. John Sapien and Colin Campbell from District 8.

AMERICAN LEGION: While much of the attention focuses on South Williamsport, Albuquerque’s Post 13 team is one of eight competing in Shelby, N.C., at the American Legion World Series, for players up to age 19. Post 13, managed by Daniel Gonzales, begins pool play today against Festus (Mo.) Post 253. The game streams at 11 a.m. on espn3.com.