Leading Off

Little Bigs

Centerfielder Brady Hamilton and catcher Cody Walker of the Southeast team from Georgia celebrate after their 7--3 win over the Northwest team from Oregon in the U.S. championship game of the Little League World Series last Saturday in Williamsport, Pa. Thanks to Walker, the Georgia boys had even more to celebrate on Monday, when his two-run homer (inset)--and Kyle Carter's 11 strikeouts--beat Japan 2--1 in the title game.

Muddy Good

Joseph Gaskins, a wide receiver at St. Augustine High in New Orleans, was muddied but unbowed as his Purple Knights (inset) played Archbishop Shaw to a 0--0 tie last Saturday in Metairie, La. It was the first game for the Purple Knights since their entire 2005 season was wiped out by Hurricane Katrina.

Rapids Transit

Three-time Olympian Scott Shipley makes a trial run on one of the slalom courses he designed at the new U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte. The photo was taken with a remote camera mounted on the front of his kayak (inset). Shipley finished fourth in the national championships there last weekend.

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