Back2Back; The Liu Story

June 28th. Holbrook-Palmer Park. In the 3rd round of the District 52 11-12s Little League Allstar Tournament, Palo Alto Nationals found themselves down 10-7 with 2 outs at the bottom of the last inning. With the hard throwing San Mateo American pitcher still going strong, one man on base, the pressure was as high as it gets in youth baseball. But not for 5’2”, 110lb Kylie Liu. Unfazed, the 7th batter for PALL lined a 1-1 pitch over the centerfield fence to help her team climb back to one run deficit. “She IS a total gamer!” exclaimed Ted Bucklin, Kylie's regular season LL manager for Old Pro.

Palo Alto did lose that day and eventually was eliminated later in the week. But Kylie’s home run was more than just a moment every Little Leaguer dreams of. It was also a first HR by a Palo Alto girl in the 12s Tournament and perhaps in District 52 history. No such records are kept but several past PALL presidents have no recollection of such a feat.

It doesn’t end here; in the night before…….

June 27th, Palo Alto Baylands Athletic Center. Sundance, the regular season’s 1st place team falls behind 5-0 in the first inning in the first game in the Palo Alto Babe Ruth City Championship Finale. Facing Goetz Brothers best pitcher Trevor Leon with 2 outs and a man on, Sundance’s cleanup hitter, Kylen Liu (Kylie’s big brother) drove a 3-2 fastball deep to left center for a 2 run home run. Later in the bottom of the last inning, Sundance fighting back still down by 2 runs and again with 2 outs, Kylen hits a Leon’s curveball almost to the same spot for a solo HR. "I was looking curveball, but this one didn't break as much as his others," described Kylen. The crowd went wild.

Has this ever happened before? “Not that I can remember, and definitely not at Baylands, where there might be two or three home runs hit during the course of an entire year at the Babe Ruth level,“ commented Sundance manager Ron Fried.

Kylen’s HR’s were special. “Most of the home runs I've seen hit at Baylands Park over the past 35 years have been to straight away left field or right down the left field line. It's very rare to see a home run hit to the left center field gap, about 370 feet from home. The two home runs that Kylen hit were not only very impressive, but would have been home runs at many major league ballparks as well.” added Ron, one of the most dedicated PABR managers.

“All comes from me”, tells Keyi (the mom of the two hitters), lightheartedly. But the biggest dad-smile of the week on Liwei Liu said otherwise; for the Liu's, its total family commitment.

"Very important to me. They really support me and let me excel," stated Kylen. Without any pressure too; "my parents are really lenient about it . . . my family keeps me happy," concluded Kylie, perfectly.