Ex-New York Yankees star Bernie Williams is returning to a world series, but he's trading his glove in for a guitar.The former outfielder-turned-professional guitarist will play the Star Spangled Banner before the U.S. championship game Saturday night at the Little League World Series.It will be the first time that Williams will perform the national anthem in public, Little League and Williams said in a statement Wednesday."I have so many fond memories of playing Little League Baseball growing up in Puerto Rico," Williams said. "Always dreaming of someday playing in the major leagues, and now that dream lives inside each one of these youngsters who will take the field this weekend."Williams played 16 years with the Yankees, retiring after the 2006 season with a .297 career batting average and four World Series rings.Now, the classically trained musician is a recording artist with Reform Records. His single, "Go For it," is currently the No. 1 song in the country on Billboard's Smooth Jazz chart.Williams isn't the only notable name who will be taking part in pregame festivities Saturday.Former U.S. Army Gen. Tommy Franks is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the U.S. game Saturday. Franks was commander in chief of the U.S. Central Command when the United States began military action in Afghanistan in 2001 and invaded Iraq in 2003. He retired in August 2003.___SAUDI FUN: Another year, another tall member of the Durley family at the Little League World Series.Six-foot-2, 233-pound first baseman Cameron Durley of the Dhahran, Saudi Arabia team finished his second and final Little League tournament in fine style, singling home two runs with the bases loaded in his team's 5-3 win Tuesday over Maracaibo, Venezuela.Height runs in the Durley family. His older brother, Aaron, played three years ago for Saudi Arabia, when, at a then-height of 6-foot-8, he became the tallest participant ever at the series.Cameron said his brother now stands 6-foot-11 and plays basketball.What does Aaron weigh?"A lot," Cameron said with a laugh Tuesday. He's little more vocal and less camera-shy than his older brother.Aaron, though, still holds the edge in size _ a question that Cameron often gets."It's hard sometimes, because sometimes, I always get compared to my brother," Cameron said. "I can't even try to beat him up ... one time, I got away with it."___BACK TO THE CAGE: The Chula Vista, Calif., team has developed a reputation for its power-hitting prowess, having hit 10 homers in its first two World Series games.But San Antonio, Texas limited the southern California sluggers to just homer in a 6-3 win Tuesday night. Manager Oscar Castro planned to have his team hit off tees for batting practice Wednesday.Castro theorized his hitters may be trying too hard to swing for the fences. He said the team's philosophy all season long has been to make good contact and hit for line drives _ regardless of whether those liners make it over the outfield wall."We're getting away a little bit from our strategy. The boys are getting more uppercut swings," Castro said.California plays Warner Robins, Ga., in a U.S. semifinal game Thursday night.___NO NO-NOs: For the second game in a row, a Mexico pitcher had to be lifted from the game while pitching a no-hitter because he had reached his 85 pitch-count limit.Raymundo Berrones had the misfortune on Wednesday, removed with one out in the fifth after hitting his pitch count. He had struck out 10 hitters.Marcelo Martinez had a no-hitter Tuesday until leaving in the fifth with 12 strikeouts after hitting his 85 pitches.___BASEBALL ANYONE?: Teams can still play baseball even if they've been eliminated from the series. Clubs can play at Volunteer Stadium, though without all the pregame hoopla and TV cameras that accompany a regular World Series contest. The exhibition games Wednesday pitted Washington against Canada, and Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany versus Iowa. ... Subway restaurants is bringing out some notable big leaguers in an effort to promote a program in which they said all proceeds go to non-profit Little League Baseball. Former Yankee Bucky Dent was at the park Tuesday, while ex-Dodger Orel Hershiser was scheduled to appear Friday as part of the "Baseball Design Across America" tour, in which balls designed by Little Leaguers and autographed by ballplayers and celebrities are auctioned for the charity. ... Flags at Lamade Stadium were lowered to half-staff before Wednesday's games in honor of Sen. Edward Kennedy, who died Tuesday night.
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