YSU’s Cooper in ‘umpire heaven’

Staff/wire reports

So. Williamsport, Pa.

Canfield’s Chet Cooper will be the left-field line umpire for tonight’s Little League World Series game between Texas and Tennessee.

ESPN will televise the 8 p.m. contest.

Cooper is the second Mahoning Valley umpire to be selected to work the Little League World Series. The other was Greg Giannios, of Boardman, who umpired for the 1998 Little League World Series.

“I’m having one heck of a blast,” said Cooper after umpiring third base in Mexico’s 6-2 victory over Curacao. “I’m getting tons of texts, emails, calls and Facebook messages. It’s been an incredible experience, beyond what I ever anticipated.”

Cooper, a professor of biology at Youngstown State University, said that assignments for the rest of the tournament are tricky because “you are not permitted to work a game involving a team from your region.”

Cooper, who is writing a blog about his Williamsport experiences, is representing the Great Lakes region. As the tournament enters its final five days, Little League merges regions. The Midwest has been added to Cooper’s region.

“Therefore, any game involving a team from [those] regions will not be umpired by my good buddy Jesse Howard or myself,” Cooper said. “Because of these complexities and outcomes of late games, Mike Legge cannot make assignments until the end of the day.”

The USA and international championships will be played on Saturday. The championship game and third-place contest are scheduled for Sunday.

Cooper’s blog may be read: chet-llws-2012.blogspot.com.

“I’m in umpire heaven,” Cooper said.

CALIFORNIA 5, CONNECTICUT 0

Powerful Petaluma, Calif., can pitch, too.

Hance Smith’s three-run homer in the third broke open a tight game, and Quinton Gago struck out seven over 51/3 innings.

California moves on to the U.S. semifinals on Thursday night. Connecticut was eliminated.

MEXICO 6, CURACAO 2

Nuevo Laredo, Mexico also is moving on, clinching a spot in the international semifinals. Ramon Ballina hit a three-run drive for his third homer of the tournament.