DELAYED

With rain falling throughout Sunday morning in South Williamsport, Pa., the start time of the World Championship game has been delayed to 6 p.m. at the earliest.
It's still raining in the Williamsport area and that time could be delayed again.
Many of the events for Sunday -- the final day of the Little League World Series -- were canceled because of rain.
The consolation game between Mexico and Beaverton, Ore., was canceled. The Parade of Flags and Parade of Champions as well as the pre-game ceremony to honor former Major League pitcher Mike Flanagan have been canceled.

THE THEORY

Apparently Connie Watson, the mother of Phoenix, Ariz., player Hunter Rodriguez, thinks Northern didn't try to win.
Watson ran up and down the Northern side yelling at the players. She then started yelling at the Northern fans.
Police had to remove Watson from the game in the sixth inning.
"This is totally wrong," Watson told the East Valley Tribune. "They laid down their bats. This isn't hearsay, it's absolute fact."
But that might be where the conspiracy theory ends.
"We want to win every game," John Phillips, J.T.'s father said.
And coach Randy Morris wasn't buying it either.
"That's riduculous," Morris told reporters after the game. "My No. 3 pitcher threw a gem. If I wanted to lose I would have thrown my No. 11 pitcher, not my third. ... I don't know how to lose."
Even Lemont, Ill., manager Mike Hall said Northern was trying to win to win the game.
Not having lost in the tournament makes it even tougher to understand why the Northern would do such a thing.
In reality, it just doesn't make any sense.

BOUNCING BACK

Northern finally tasted its first loss of the playoffs.
They slowly walked off the field. They didn't know how to respond. Some probably even thought that they were eliminated as manager Randy Morris told the team it had to win.
Now, Northern has a day to rest before playing Thursday in the semifinals against Portsmouth, N.H., at 7:30.
Morris wonders how they will respond.
Northern will bounce back. When the players step foot on the practice field they will be ready to go. With its pitching lined up, Northern can still be a force.

THE WAITING GAME

Northern won't play for another fours hours but some of the Northern faithful has already gathered inside Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport, Pa.
They are patiently watching the early game between Staten Island, N.Y., and Phoenix, Ariz. There's not a whole lot for them to get excited about as Staten Island trails 3-0 in the second inning.
A Staten Island victory would secure Northern a spot in the U.S. semifinals before it steps on the field this evening.
Even a few of the players have joined the faithful in the stands. They appeared relaxed and ready.