I'm sure he does, but ...

First, he didn't drop a popup; he overran the ball, which is certainly a misplay, albeit on a pretty difficult play.

Moreover, the more I watch the replay, the more I'm convinced that the rightfielder should bear the greatest burden for the ball not being caught.

He clearly had slowed up before the ball landed -- and almost certainly could have reached the ball before it landed, without diving or leaving his feet.

That play is much easier for the outfielder than it is for the infielder and frankly, the outfielder coming in on that ball and calling off the infielder going out is textbook fundamentals for outfield play.

1st baseman gets brushed by 2nd baseman

That starts the confusion, as he pulls off. The right fielder didn't seem to want it/thought the 1st baseman had it from early in the play.

I see it much the same, though the 1st baseman probably makes that play without a hitch if the 2nd baseman doesn't interfere.

OK, a group effort - still, they had it won *

Yes, an excruciating loss for those kids ...

All three of the players had enough time to get to the ball.

IMO, the second baseman had the right idea, at least vis-à-vis the first baseman. As a former first baseman, I'll readily concede that in the vast majority of cases, the second baseman is a better athlete and is just better/more comfortable tracking flies/popups. Additionally, the second baseman typically has a better angle on a play like that, and did on that play, although the ball was close enough to the stands that it wasn't the first baseman's worst nightmare, a ball nearly directly over his head.

Of course, the second baseman didn't execute very well. Brushing the first baseman was a product of his aggressiveness, but the over-aggressiveness really manifested itself when he overran the flight of the ball. I'm sure that the adrenaline produced by the game situation played some role in that.

I wholeheartedly agree with ndgotrobbed that it appeared that the rightfielder didn't "want" the ball. That's horrible for the outfielder. With the ball "reachable" by all three players, he has the easiest play, since he's coming in. He has to "want" that ball and call everybody else off and make the play.

Plus, who wouldn't want to make the final out in the CWS? *