After two years of hosting an all-girls baseball game at the end of the season, Rachel Gansner, volunteer coach and local league board member, was ready to take it to the next level. Motivated by her own years as a young female athlete on a baseball field, Ms. Gansner worked with the community to develop the Warren Park Youth Baseball Little League all-girls fall baseball league in Chicago, Illinois.  

“As I became more involved with Warren Park, it became evident to me that I needed to help support the girls who I saw leaving the program by helping them break down the barriers they faced,” said Ms. Gansner. “We started with an all-girls game to end the season. That developed into us starting this fall season, which ended up being a success. It was a huge event, not just for the girls but also for the community. The amount of support that we got from the families, some who didn’t even have daughters playing on the teams, was amazing.” 

At the start of the season, 23 female athletes, all between the ages of eight and 10, were split into four teams – the Comets, Peaches, Belles, and Blue Sox – with five to six girls on a team. Each week, two of the teams paired up to play against the two other teams on Sunday night, drawing a crowd of supporters to the field.   

“One of the main goals was for the girls to develop their own community and get to know other girls. They got to know all of the girls in the league really well with this model, but they still had the commitment and connection with their own teams when they competed,” said Ms. Gansner. “We had full crowds every Sunday – people from our league, people who have left the league because their kids have gone on to different levels of play, and community members. My son was there every week announcing the games… it was a great way to spend time at a baseball field.”  

In addition to the games, the girls participated in a series of sessions focused on different skills, including batting, hitting, catching, and pitching. The sessions were led by the volunteer coaches, local female high school baseball players, and even some female players Ms. Gansner played with in her early 20s. At the end of the season, the girls participated in a final series of drills showcasing the skills.  

The 2024 fall ball season ran from early September to late October, a fitting tribute to cap off the end of Little League’s Girls with Game® 50 Celebration, honoring 50 years of female inclusion in the program and inspiring the next generation to keep stepping up to the plate.    

“Being on a beautifully groomed diamond brings tears to my eyes, you know,” said Ms. Gansner. “So, to have a year like this, where it didn’t feel like a fight to get the season approved and started, that just shows you how far we have come in the last 50 years.” 

Ms. Gansner plans to host the all-girls fall season again in future years, continuing to create a space where athletes of all skill levels feel like they can lace up their cleats and step onto the diamond to play the sport they love.  

“I don’t want any girls to feel like they don’t belong on the baseball diamond. I don’t want any women to feel like they don’t belong as a baseball coach. I don’t want the sport to only be available to the girls and women who are willing to fight to break down the barriers,” said Ms. Gansner. “I want every girl to feel like this is their place. That’s why I started this league – to show the girls that they had a community and to give them extra experience to develop as players, and to help them create their own baseball culture.”  

To learn more about the Little League® program, and find a league in your community, visit PlayLittleLeague.org. 

For more information about the Girls with Game 50 Celebration and Little League’s commitment to furthering its female inclusion efforts, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50. The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating around key events and milestones this year.

The post Little Leaguers® Make Lifelong Memories at Warren Park All-Girls Fall Baseball League appeared first on Little League.

Growing up in a baseball family, Michael Umpierre hoped his passion for the game would be passed down to his children. Fortunately, his dreams became a reality when both his son and daughter laced up their cleats and stepped onto Capitol City Little League’s field in Washington, D.C.  

Thanks to encouragement from his wife, Mr. Umpierre stepped onto the diamond with them with his coach’s cap on.  

“I will continue to coach as long as my kids want me to,” said Mr. Umpierre. “It’s really special to coach them, their friends, their peers, and to be able to do it as part of the Capitol City Little League community.” 

Celebrating his efforts as a volunteer coach, Mr. Umpierre was recognized at the 2024 Little League Baseball® World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, as the recipient of the Little League Baseballl Lance Coach of the Year Award.  

Also recognized as the October 2024 Little League® Diamond Leader of the Month, Mr. Umpierre shared his experience in a Diamond Leader Discussion:     

From your experience with the Little League Diamond Leader Training Program, why do you think it is important for other coaches and volunteers to take it, as well?   

Just like our players, coaches need training, too. It is wonderful to have a training that’s not just about how you put a practice plan or baseball strategy together, but instead, one that focuses on youth development and supporting kids to do well both on and off the field. Those types of opportunities for a coach are amazing and I think our entire coaching community is privileged to have access to that because we all need it. 

What does it mean to you to be a Diamond Leader and why should others strive to be the same?      

When I think about the moments that we have experienced as a team, there are memories that stand out to me that I will never forget or that the kids will never forget, and they aren’t necessarily about a specific winning game or well executed practice, but, it is about the things they learned that can be used in their life beyond baseball… Those moments can’t happen without a coach who believes in the player, who shows they are there to elevate them and lift them up, and who identifies ways each player can grow and learn by identifying their individual ability and talent, which may not be baseball skills but instead how well they support their teammates.  

The Little League Diamond Leader program, which was first piloted with nearly 1,000 Little League volunteers throughout the 2022 season, was created as part of the Susan Crown Exchange’s Million Coaches Challenge and developed in coordination with the Aspen Institute’s Project Play. Focused on ensuring children have a positive, well-rounded experience on and off the field, the Little League Diamond Leader Training Program is a FREE educational resource that provides coaches with an understanding of the impact that mental, social, and emotional well-being has in youth sports through detailed information, interactive scenarios, and a variety of additional resources. Learn more and become a Diamond Leader yourself by visiting LittleLeague.org/DiamondLeader.  

The post Little League® Diamond Leader Discussion: Michael Umpierre appeared first on Little League.

The application for umpires to request assignment at the 2025 Little League® International Tournament is officially open through the Umpire Registry, giving Little League umpires the opportunity to volunteer on the biggest stage next season.

APPLY NOW

Umpires interested in applying for one of these assignments must be a member of the Little League Umpire Registry and submit their Tournament Application on the registry home page. The deadline to apply for the 2025 assignments is December 31, 2024.

Little League International is hoping to complete the 2025 tournament assignment process by the end of January with individuals being notified in February.

HOW TO GET SELECTED

Beginning with the 2024 season, Little League International has adjusted its tournament selection process to allow umpires who have previously officiated Region and World Series Tournaments, and other upper-level tournaments, to apply to umpire these same level tournaments in future years. For example, umpires who have previously officiated at the Little League Baseball or Little League Softball World Series may apply for this experience again at any time in the future. This policy will continue to apply for 2025 tournament requests.

Also for 2025, umpires may indicate on their tournament application if they would like to be considered for region tournaments outside the region in which they reside.

Umpires interested in being considered for any World Series, Region, or other upper-level tournament assignment must be active umpires in their local leagues/districts and are encouraged to have recently attended any of Little League’s official education and training sessions available at a Region Center or Little League International in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

ABOUT UMPIRE ID CAMPS

In addition to all the resources and events listed in the Umpire Registry, be sure to check out the Little League Event Calendar to stay up-to-date with all the events happening throughout the year.

EVENT CALENDAR

The post Umpire Applications Open for the 2025 Little League® International Tournament appeared first on Little League.

In the late 1860s, Louisa May Alcott, author of the popular novel Little Women, wanted to try her hand at genres she did not typically write, which turned out to be stories only men had written up to that point. To increase her chances of getting her new works published, she wrote under a male pen name, A M Barnard.  

More than a century later, Rachel Balkovec has just finished an internship with the St. Louis Cardinals and was looking for a full-time position. Despite having four years of experience playing Division I softball, a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, and a master’s degree in kinesiology, after applying for 15 different professional sports organizations in the Phoenix area, she only heard back from one.   

“We went through the whole interview process, and he offered me a job. I accepted it and was told that HR would reach out in a couple of days, but I never heard from them. A couple of weeks went by with just silence on their end, so I followed up,” said Ms. Balkovec. “Finally, this guy calls me back and he expressed that he really wants to follow through with hiring me, but that the organization’s front office was not ready or willing to hire a woman with their players at that time… He then broke the news to me that he also called around to all the teams that had open roles in the area, the ones I applied to, and they all said the same thing. They weren’t willing to hire a woman. That was the first time that I fully understood the industry’s perspective at the time on women working with professional athletes.”  

Not one to shy away from a fight, Ms. Balkovec pushed onward. After continuing to only be offered jobs with women’s sports, Ms. Balkovec took another internship where she worked in both softball and baseball while she waitressed on the side as well. After the internship came to an end, Ms. Balkovec again applied to multiple professional baseball organizations in the off season, but, this time, her sister proposed a change to her resume to hopefully increase her chances. Following in the footsteps of women like Louisa May Alcott, Ms. Balkovec used a male pseudonym on her resume, changing it from “Rachel” to “Rae.” Finally, she was getting phone interviews. 

“To be honest with you, it was short lived, because, you know, eventually they were going to find out I was a woman. But, when I did submit my resume with the name Rae on it, I started getting phone calls and email responses that I wasn’t getting before,” said Ms. Balkovec. “Actually getting the responses to my resume gave me the confidence that I was qualified and taking the right steps. I just needed a team to take a chance on me.”  

One full year after the end of her internship, the St. Louis Cardinals called Ms. Balkovec letting her know of an opening for a full-time strength and conditioning coach and expressed their desire to have her back on their team. Mr. Balkovec accepted the role with organization’s Rookie League team at the time, making her the first female to hold this position with an MLB-affiliated team.  

This would not be the last time Ms. Balkovec’s name had “first” associated with it in her career. In 2019, after spending time in the Netherlands pursuing a second master’s degree and working as an assistant hitting coach for the Dutch baseball and softball programs, Ms. Balkovec returned to the United States and was hired as the New York Yankee’s Minor League hitting coach, becoming the first female to have this role with an MLB-affiliated team. Three years later, the Yankees announced that Ms. Balkovec would manage the Single-A Tampa Tarpons, making her the first female in history to manage a professional baseball team.  

In 2024, it was announced that Ms. Balkovec would become the Director of Player Development for the Miami Marlins, where she continues to work today, inspiring the next generation of females who would like to work in the sports industry.  

To learn more about her experience as a young female athlete and her ongoing career in baseball, Little League® sat down for a special Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) Six-Inning Conversation with Ms. Balkovec: 

First Inning: What was the best advice you received as a young female athlete? 

I am not sure if there is one piece of advice that sticks out to me, but our coaches demanded so much of us as young women and through that they taught us that we were going to have to earn everything we got. They also pushed the idea that it’s not enough, but they did it in such a positive way – where they had extremely high demands but also provided extremely high support. I guess the advice was that you don’t get anything handed to you. That was something my parents also taught me – you want to do it, then you have to earn it. 

Second Inning: When you look at your resume, there are a lot of “firsts” tied to your name. What has it meant to you and your journey to be the “first” in so many different avenues of the sports industry?   

Frankly, I don’t know yet. I have had to focus on myself a lot through this process, and just figure out how to make myself a credible, qualified candidate and how to network myself each step of the way. So, when I think about what it took to get all of these ‘first,’ I think about how grueling and difficult and emotional it was. But, if I try to zoom out and think about it from a bigger picture, I do hope my journey has helped and continues to help other women. I think 50 years down the road I’ll be able to think more about the significance, but I am still in it right now and the fight is still going… I’m just doing my part and then someday, you know, the torch will be passed to the younger generation to carry it on to whatever they do and wherever they go. 

Third Inning: If you had the opportunity to speak with a young female athlete who is just starting her athletic career, what advice would you give her? 

Be coachable. Be the first one to the field and the last one to leave. And, be ready to listen when your coach is talking. That was something I was not always very good at. I was a fireball and always had an opinion. I wanted to know why I was being asked to do something, which I think is important to know, but there is also a fine line between asking for a reason and talking back. Also, be the hardest worker in the room and try to lead others to do the same.  

Fourth Inning: Based on your experience, what advice would you give to a female who is looking for a professional career in the sports industry?

Take the perspective of earning your stripes and taking the slow way. Seek out the best people in the world and try to learn from them. Read articles, watch videos, and be an intern. I think there are a lot of women out there who don’t want to take an internship, but I did so many internships and they were all valuable to my learning and growing. Maybe it is not the job that you see yourself doing in the future, but you can still learn from it. For example, say you want to be a hitting coach, but you are offered to be a video intern. By taking the video internships, then you’re in the office, filming the hitting coaches, learning from the hitting coaches on how to be a better coach, and you’re building relationships that can help you in the future. So, my advice is to be okay with starting at the bottom of the totem pole, even if it’s the wrong job with the worst pay. Be the fly on the wall, learning and establishing your network of people who will help you grow.  

Fifth Inning: How do you feel when you hear the phrase, “if you can see her, you can be her” and did you have anyone you looked to for inspiration when you started your own professional journey?

Sus Falsone was the head athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Dodgers years ago, and when I first saw her photo with the team, I remember it being pierced into my brain. I just remember reading the article and seeing her in the photo and thinking, alright that’s a different profession than what I want to go into, but this organization still hired a woman to do it instead of another male. She in the clubhouse, she’s in the dugout, she’s a part of the team. I knew there was now a door I could possibly go through and that goes with the ‘if you can see it, you can be it’ mentality. I totally believe in that, and I don’t know if I will ever know the actual impact my career had, but I hope there are women out there who are now seeing my photo or reading an article and drawing inspiration from it.  

Sixth Inning: Little League is celebrating 50 years of female involvement in the program this year. While we celebrate the past, what do you think is the future for females in sports, whether it is on the field or behind the scenes?

The future is here, and the field is wide open. If you think about it, what still needs to be knocked off other than maybe a primary owner of an MLB team, you know? So, when we say what’s the future, it’s to realize that the opportunity is here for the taking. It’s here. There’s not much that women haven’t done, right? So as people like Kelsey Whitmore retire and go out for jobs like a pitching coach for a professional team, it won’t be as big of a shockwave to the system of baseball. So, yea the opportunities are here for the taking, you just have to go after them.  

NOTE: To read more of the Special “Six Inning” Features as part of the Little League Girls with Game 50 Celebration, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50. The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committing to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating for this celebration around key events and milestones this year. 

The post Six Innings with Miami Marlins Director of Player Development, Rachel Balkovec appeared first on Little League.

With the 2024 MLB Postseason officially set, more than 115 former Little Leaguers® are set to take the field this October in hopes of taking home the Commissioner’s Trophy.  

Below are the Little League® grads who are currently involved with each of the postseason clubs, including those on the 40-man roster and members of the Front Office and coaching staffs: 

Atlanta Braves

• Ozzie Albies – Pariba LL (Willemstad, Curacao)
• Cavan Biggio – West University LL (Houston, Texas)
• Max Fried – Encino (Calif.) LL
• Joe Jiménez – Pablo Burgos LL (San Juan, P.R.)
• Raymond Kerr – Rancho Cordova (Calif.) LL
• Charlie Morton – Trumbull (Conn.) LL
• Chris Sale – Lakeland City (Fla.) Baseball LL
• Spencer Schwellenbach – Saginaw LL (Mich.)
• Gio Urshela – Cartagena, Colombia
• Luke Williams – Laguna Niguel (Calif.) LL
• Huascar Ynoa – Wellington Francisco LL (Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic)

Baltimore Orioles 

• Keegan Akin – Alma (Mich.) LL 

• Zach Eflin – Oviedo (Fla.) LL 

• Brandon Hyde (Manager) – Santa Rosa (Calif.) American LL 

• Dean Kremer – Sundown LL (Stockton, Calif.) 

• James McCann – Goleta Valley South LL (Santa Barbara, Calif.) 
• Emmanuel Rivera – Rio Hondo LL (Mayaguez, P.R.)

• Trevor Rogers – Carlsbad (N.M.) National LL 

• Jordan Westburg – New Braunfels (Texas) LL 

Cleveland Guardians 

• Sandy Alomar Jr. (1B Coach) – Salinas (Puerto Rico) LL 

• Tanner Bibee – South Mission Viejo (Calif.) LL 

• Shane Bieber – Laguna Hills LL (Orange, Calif.) 

• Tyler Freeman – Vineyard LL (Etiwanda, Calif.) 

• Sam Hentges – Shoreview (Minn.) Area Youth Baseball North LL 

• James Karinchak – Walden (N.Y.) Community LL 

• Steven Kwan – Sunnyvale (Calif.) Southern LL 

• Kyle Manzardo – Couer d’Alene (Idaho) LL 

• Daniel Schneemann – Sweetwater Valey LL (Bonita, Calif.) 

• Trevor Stephan – Magnolia (Texas) LL 

• Gavin Williams – FCPR Zone 2 LL (Fayettevill, N.C.) 

Detroit Tigers 

• Beau Brieske – Chandler (Ariz.) National LL 

• Kerry Carpenter – Eustis (Fla.) LL 
• Joey Cora (3B Coach) – Caguas (P.R.) Gillette LL
• Jason Foley – North Bellmore-N (N.Y.) Merrick LL 

• Ryan Kreidler – Davis (Calif.) American LL 

• Bligh Madris – Silverado LL (Las Vegas, Nev.) 

• Justyn-Henry Malloy – Bergenfield (N.J.) LL 
• Zach McKinstry – Holy Cross LL (Fort Wayne, Ind.)

• Tarik Skubal – Kingman (Ariz.) North LL/Kingman (Ariz.) South LL 

• Spencer Torkelson – Petaluma Valley (Calif.) LL 

• Ryan Vilade – Rose Capital West American LL (Tyler, Texas) 

• Will Vest – First Colony LL (Sugar Land, Texas) 

Houston Astros 

• Spencer Arrighetti – Paradise Hills LL (Albuquerque, N.M.) 

• Alex Bregman – Eastdale LL (Albuquerque, N.M.) 
• Victor Caratini – Coamo (P.R.) LL

• Alex Cintron (Hitting Coach) – Juan Antonio Bibiloni LL (Yabucoa, P.R.) 

• Shawn Dubin – Allegany (N.Y.) LL 

• Cooper Hummel – Lake Oswego (Ore.) LL 

• Seth Martinez – Sierra Vista (Ariz.) LL 

• Chas McCormick – East Side LL (West Chester, Pa.) 

• Lance McCullers Jr. – Citrus Park (Fla.) LL 

• Jeremy Peña – Elmwood LL (Providence, R.I.) 

• Bennett Sousa – North Palm Beach (Fla.) County LL 

• Kyle Tucker – Tampa Bay (Fla.) LL 

• Justin Verlander – Tuckahoe (Va.) LL 

Kansas City Royals  

• Kris Bubic – Moreland District LL (San Jose, Calif.) 

• Lucas Erceg – Spartan Baseball LL (San Jose, Calif.) 

• Garrett Hampson – Reno (Nev.) National LL 

• Kyle Isbel – Fontana (Calif.) Community LL 

• Sam Long – College Glen LL (Sacramento, Calif.) 

• Michael Lorenzen – East Anaheim (Calif.) LL 

• James McArthur – New Braunfels (Texas) LL 

• Nick Pratto – Huntington Beach (Calif.) LL – 2009 LLBWS 

• Cole Ragans – Northwest Leon LL (Tallahassee, Fla.) 

Los Angeles Dodgers 

• Austin Barnes – Magnolia LL (Riverside, Calif.) 

• Walker Buehler – Lexington (Ky.) Eastern LL 

• Tommy Edman – Tierrasanta LL (San Diego, Calif.) 

• Jack Flaherty – Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Southern LL 

• Freddie Freeman – North Sunrise LL (Orange, Calif.) 

• Tony Gonsolin – Vacaville Central (Calif.) LL 

• Kyle Hurt – Solana Beach (Calif.) LL 

• Clayton McCullough (1B Coach) – Greenville (N.C.) LL 

• Shohei Ohtani – Mizusawa (Japan) LL 

• James Outman – San Carlos (Calif.) National LL 

• Emmet Sheehan – Darien (Conn.) LL 

• Gavin Stone – Northeast Arkansas LL (Brookland, Ark.) 

• Alex Vesia – Alpine (Calif.) American LL 

• Duncan Webb (Director of Baseball Resources) – Wyoma (Mass.) LL 

Milwaukee Brewers 

• Jake Bauers – Ocean View LL (Huntingdon Beach, Calif.) 

• J.B. Bukauskas – Dulles LL (Ashburn, Va.) 

• Jackson Chourio – Cacique Mara LL (Maracaibo, Venezuela) – 2017 Intermediate (50/70) WS 

• Aaron Civale – East Windsor (Conn.) LL 

• Robert Gasser – El Dorado Hills (Calif.) LL 

• Nick Mears – Rocklin (Calif.) LL 

• Garrett Mitchell – Villa Park (Calif.) LL 

• Christian Yelich – Thousand Oaks (Calif.) LL 

New York Mets 

• Pete Alonso – Tampa Bay (Fla.) LL 

• Harrison Bader – Eastchester (N.Y.) LL 

• Edwin Diaz – Miguel Luzunaris LL (Humacao, Puerto Rico) 

• Reed Garrett – Tuckahoe LL (Henrico, Va.) 

• Sean Manaea – Wanatah (Ind.) LL 

• Jeff McNeil – Goleta Valley South LL (Santa Barbara, Calif.) 

• Jose Quintana – Barranquilla (Colombia) Linda LL 

New York Yankees 

• Aaron Boone (Manager) 

• Jazz Chisholm Jr. – Freedoms Farm LL (Nassau, Bahamas) 

• Gerrit Cole – Tustin (Calif.) Western LL 

• Ian Hamilton – Salmon Creek LL (Vancouver, Wash.) 

• Aaron Judge – Linden (Calif.) LL 

• D.J. LeMahieu – East Madison LL (Visalia, Calif.) 

• Cody Poteet – Sweetwater Valley LL (Bonita, Calif.) 

• Anthony Rizzo – Parkland (Fla.) LL 

• Ben Rice – Cohasset (Mass.) LL 

• Juan Soto – Banco Central LL (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) – 2010 LLB Caribbean Region Tournament 

• Giancarlo Stanton – Tujunga (Calif.) LL 

• Lou Trivino – Pennridge LL (Perkasie, Pa.) 

• Anthony Volpe – West Side LL (New York, N.Y.) 

• Austin Wells – Paseo Verde LL (Henderson, Nev.) 

Philadelphia Phillies 

• Kolby Allard – San Clemente (Calif.) LL 

• Jeff Hoffman – North Colonie American (N.Y.) LL 

• Orion Kerkering – Venice (Fla.) LL 

• Edmundo Sosa – Juan Diaz LL (Panama) 

• Bryson Stott – Silverado LL (Las Vegas, Nev.) 

• Trea Turner – West Boynton Beach (Fla.) LL 

• Taijuan Walker – Yucaipa Valley (Calif.) National LL 

• Zack Wheeler – Smyrna (Ga.) LL 

San Diego Padres 

• Xander Bogaerts – Aruba South LL – 2009 SLBWS 

• Luis Campusano – Inwood Manhattan LL (New York, N.Y.) 

• Jake Cronenworth – St. Clair (Mich.) LL 

• Kyle Higashioka – Seaview LL/Walnut Creek LL (Huntington Beach, Calif.) 

• Michael King – Warwick (R.I.) Continental American LL 
• Jurickson Profar – Pabao LL (Willemstead, Curacao) – 2004 LLBWS 

The 2024 MLB Postseason begins on Tuesday, Oct. 1, with four of the American League and National League Wild Card Series games and conclude with the World Series, starting on Friday, Oct. 25.   

To see all the former Little Leaguers who are currently playing Major League Baseball, as well as a number of other notable alumni in a variety of different areas, visit LittleLeague.org/Alumni.  

NOTE: If you know of a notable Little League graduate that belongs on this list, please complete the Little League Alumni Submission form. 

The post Little League® Grads Set to Compete for 2024 Commissioner’s Trophy appeared first on Little League.

In 1988, Angela Noury’s mother, Robin, aspired to volunteer her time as a Little League® umpire. However, at the time, she was not taken seriously by her male counterparts and when she arrived at a weeklong training camp in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the organization was surprised that “Robin Noury” was not a man.  

It was not an easy journey for Robin, but it was worth it when just a year later Ms. Noury, inspired by her mother, started her training as a Junior Umpire. Today, more than 35 years later, Ms. Noury continues to spend her days at the North Oakland/South Oakland (Calif.) Little League fields calling games as the league’s Umpire-in-Chief. Over the years, umpiring has given Ms. Noury life lessons that she carries off the field and into her day-to-day life, as well.   

“I think because rules and order are such a big part of who I am as a person, being an umpire and knowing that my voice and opinion matters on the field has really propelled me not just in baseball, but in my personal and professional life, too,” said Ms. Noury. “Going through college and choosing to study science and technology, which is a male-dominated field, it was great that I learned through Little League at a very young age that my voice matters and that I can speak up.” 

In 2024, Ms. Noury was selected as one of 16 female umpires to participate in the history-making 2024 Maria Pepe Little League Baseball® Legacy Series, a weekend long event welcoming nearly 100 girls to play baseball at the Little League International Complex.  

To learn more about her experience as a female umpire, Little League sat down for a special Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) Full-Count Conversation with Ms. Noury:  

1-0 Count: Before you became an umpire, you played Little League Baseball^® in Rhode Island. What was this experience like for you as a young female athlete?  

My younger brothers and I all played Little League and my family got really involved. My dad was a Player Agent and later became the League President and my mom became a volunteer umpire. My experience playing was great and I remember having such a good time. The first year I played, there was another girl on my team, but when I moved up to the different levels of play, I became the only girl. But it was still good because I always felt like a part of the team, and I have very fond memories of my days on the field. 

1-1 Count: What about your mother’s journey to become an umpire acted as inspiration for you to also become an umpire?  

She came to Williamsport for a week to get trained. When she arrived, the umpire in charge of the training said, ‘but you’re a girl.’ That piece of it never mattered to her and she stayed for the week, got the necessary training, and became an umpire. She’s definitely my inspiration. She really showed me if you want to do it, even in the face of adversity, you can do it. If you want to be an umpire, go be an umpire. 

2-1 Count: What was the experience like for you when you determined you wanted to be volunteer umpire and started taking those first steps to become one?  

It was very tough during that era to be a woman in baseball. You must develop a tough skin, and as a teenage girl, being able to be the authority on the field and being able to tell grown men what to do, there’s nothing more empowering than that. It’s fundamentally changed who I am as a person, and that’s why I have advocated for girls in baseball and why I am still involved with Little League. I try to get more girls into umpiring. Currently, we have a few Junior Umpires who play in our league, and I love working with them and inspiring them to continue with their journey.  

2-2 Count: Do you have any pregame rituals to help calm the nerves before the first pitch?  

Everyone’s nervous before games, especially when you umpire a game at Lamade or Volunteer Stadium. Breathing, yoga, meditation, and I do some box breathing. I just try to let out the tension in my chest and in my body before the game. I will blast music by Prince. Everyone I work with jokes they know when I have arrived because they can hear the music. I like to have fun, I like to smile, and my pregame rituals just puts me in a great and confident mood, so I am ready to face the intensity of the game.  

3-2 Count: What advice would you give to a female looking to become an umpire? 

Reach out to your local leagues. I had never met another female umpire in my entire career, other than my mom, until I went to the West Region for an umpire training. I went to a weekend clinic in 2018 and met two other female umpires who I latched onto and were open to mentoring me. My biggest advice is to reach out. Somebody always knows someone. You’re not alone so just reach out. There are umpires out there that are willing to bring you along and help you reach your goals. We also have a great group of female umpires from all over the country that connect on social media and provides a great support system for each other. 

Interested in becoming a Little League umpire? Visit LittleLeague.org/Umpires to learn more. 

NOTE: The #GWG50 Celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committed to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating around key events and milestones this year.

The post A “Full-Count Conversation” with Maria Pepe Little League Baseball® Legacy Series Umpire Angela Noury appeared first on Little League.

Growing up in what she calls a “sports-heavy town” just outside of Boston, Massachusetts, it was inevitable that Meghan Duggan would spend her childhood years on not just a baseball field, but an ice-skating rink, too.

“I was super competitive in baseball growing up, from when I started Tee Ball until I went to high school. I just loved it,” said Ms. Duggan. “I played every season with my friends on various teams. Even though I went on to play hockey at the professional level, I feel like Little League was one of those experiences that helped me so much with my athleticism.”

Her passion for competition and being the best continued after she graduated from the Little League program, turning her full attention to hockey and making a career out of it. Ms. Duggan went on to play on the international stage, representing Team USA for 11 years, which included leading the team as its captain while bringing home medals in three Olympic Games and eight International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships before hanging up her skates in 2020. Off the ice, Ms. Duggan has spent her time working with the Women’s Sports Foundation since 2017. She served as the foundation’s president for two years (2022-2023) and conitnues to work as a committee chair on the Athlete Advisory Panel.

“Being a part of the Foundation is something so near and dear to my heart,” said Ms. Duggan. “I started to get involved in 2017 when our national team was honored with an award at our gala for the Women’s Sports Foundation. Once I got there and was introduced to the people, the mission, and the work that they do, I was pulled right in. It’s a great group to be a part of. It doesn’t feel like work because I’m so passionate about it, and it’s something that is really near and dear to my heart.”

In June, Little League announced it would be enshrining Ms. Duggan into the Little League Hall of Excellence, the highest honor that can be bestowed on its alumni. Prior to her official induction, Little League sat down with Ms. Duggan for a special Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) Six-Inning Conversation:

First Inning: As a young female athlete, what was the best advice you received? 

Work hard and have fun. It sounds so simple, but in this climate of youth sports, it feels like there’s so much pressure on kids, and I think having fun needs to be the number one thing. Everyone wants to enjoy what they are doing. I loved baseball, I loved hockey, I loved soccer. I loved just being with my teammates, being outside, or being in the rink, and just really enjoying what I was doing in each sport. The work ethic component is also so critical for young kids to learn because it’s hard. Baseball is a hard sport. I think about how many times I would swing and miss, or as a young kid, hit the tee and the ball just falls off. It’s a hard sport and we need to encourage kids to work hard and to get up when they fall. Although it’s cliche, things that you learn through sports are so critical and so transferable to what we’re doing now in our adult lives. So, yea, work hard and have fun.

Second Inning: After your baseball career ended, you continued with ice hockey to the professional level. Can you tell me a little bit more about your ice hockey career and what it was like to be at that level as a female athlete in the sport?

My parents put me on skates when I was about three years old, and I loved it right away. From there, it picked up momentum. I had an opportunity when I was 10 or 11 years old to watch women’s ice hockey in the Olympics for the first time. It was 1998, the games were in Nagano, Japan, and that was the first time I ever saw women playing hockey. I had never seen a young girl at the local rink, let alone women playing the sport on television. That was kind of my “aha moment” that really changed my life forever. At that point, I set my sights on professional ice hockey being what I wanted to do. I was a teenager running around, telling everyone in my hometown that professional ice hockey was what I was going to do. I built my life around it. I just kept that mentality I had from a young age, which was to work hard, enjoy it, have fun, and good things will happen.

Third Inning: You now work with the New Jersey Devils organization as the Director of Player Development. What is it like for you to be “behind the scenes”?

Staying close to the game is awesome. I love everything about the sport. Ice hockey is where my passion lies, from when I was a young kid to now. It’s one of those things people always say, stay close to what you love, because then it doesn’t feel like work. A lot of what my job entails right now is being at the rink, working with players, evaluating talent, watching games, and thinking about how players can get better. To have the opportunity to work in the NHL, to be challenged every day, and have lots of room for growth and opportunity, that’s exciting for me. You know, being a woman in this job, you see how there are so few of us right now. There are women in management, development, and scouting, which is awesome and we are growing; but when you look at all the jobs and positions across the league, it’s still a very small amount. I know myself and those other women who currently hold positions in the NHL, we wear that badge proudly. We want to help create pipelines for other women, whether that means letting young women who want to get into the business shadow us, taking calls with women who might have questions, or helping to create a pipeline and a path for other women to get their foot in the door.

Fourth Inning: If you had the opportunity to speak with a young female athlete who is just starting her athletic career, what advice would you give her? 

If there was a young female athlete facing challenges or needing to be inspired, I would first address the challenges or barriers that she is facing. There are going to be challenges in sports. I’ve had huge heartbreak, I’ve lost publicly on the world stage, I have been in tears and had gold medals ripped out of out of my hands. There are so many challenges in sports. So, I would encourage young girls to fight through challenges, to see what they are made of, to see what it feels like when they get out on the other side. Being able to push through challenges is an important thing that young athletes, especially young female athletes, learn to push through at a young age and see it as an opportunity to grow and be overjoyed with what is on the other side of that challenge or barrier.

Fifth Inning: Little League is celebrating 50 years of female involvement in the program this year. While we celebrate the past, what do you think is the future for females in sports, whether it is on the field or behind the scenes?

We are at the launch pad right now. The women’s sports era that we are living in right now is exciting and the visibility is critical. You turn on the TV and watch girls like Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles and you can’t help but be inspired by what they have been through and what they continue to do in their sports. It is key for organizations to continue to shed light on women in sports through increased visibility on social media and other platforms so people can see it and talk about it. Plus, it’s an investment and I think this era of women’s sports is all happening because people are finally seeing that it is worth something. We knew it 10, 15, 20 years ago, but now the rest of the world is realizing it.

Sixth Inning: With your Little League Hall of Excellence induction, you join a group of eight other women who have been inducted over the years. What does it mean to you to be receiving this honor?

It’s a huge honor because of how big a role Little League played in my life. I was able to dig up some photos and reminisce about the days at the field because that was just what our lives were centered around back then, and I really did grow up at the ballpark. So, to be celebrated by Little League and to be honored in this way, especially now that I am part of this group of women who have also been inducted, it is really special to me and just a tremendous honor. Little League is all about family, friends, community, teammates, and celebrating the big and little moments and I hope that other people have that same experience with the program. For me to now be associated with Little League in this capacity, it is very special to me, and I look forward to my continued connection to the program.

NOTE: To read more of the Special “Six Inning” Features as part of the Little League Girls with Game 50 Celebration, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50. The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committing to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating for this celebration around key events and milestones this year. 

The post Six Innings with 2024 Little League® Hall of Excellence Inductee Meghan Duggan appeared first on Little League.

Twenty years before Krissy Wendell-Pohl was named a member of the 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame class, she was first inducted into the Little League® Hall of Excellence, the highest honor the organization can bestow.  

As one of 23 females who have played in the Little League Baseball® World Series (LLBWS), Mrs. Wendell-Pohl has been leaving her mark long before she stepped onto the ice wearing a Team USA jersey in the 2002 Winter Olympics. The daughter of a baseball fan, when Mrs. Wendell-Pohl was not lacing up her skates in the winter, she was tightening the strings on her baseball cleats and stepping out on the field with Brooklyn Center (Minn.) American Little League.  

After spending a few years tagging along with her family to her older brothers’ practices, Mrs. Wendell-Pohl joined a team, and in 1994, she traveled to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to represent the Central Region in the 1994 LLBWS, making her the fifth female to make the trip and the first girl to start as at catcher in the world’s largest youth sports tournament. While her team did not take home the championship banner, Mrs. Wendell-Pohl did end the series with one hit, two runs, and a new perspective on the world.  

“We didn’t travel a ton growing up, so my life was really in Minnesota. The World Series was the first time I ever left the state to compete in any other sport and to meet people from other countries. In that environment, you quickly realize just how big the world really is,” said Mrs. Wendell-Pohl. “Plus, even though there were language barriers, we were able to still play the sport that we all loved together and against each other. It was cool to see how a sport can really unite people.”  

Mrs. Wendell-Pohl lived out the dream of many Little Leaguers®, making the trip to the World Series, but she would not go on to make baseball her life-long career. It was ice hockey that she felt a true love and passion for.   

“I really fell in love with the sport of hockey from a young age. The fast pace, the creativity, and the understanding that you’ll go into every game not knowing what to expect, plus the constant shifts and changes to the motion, are all reasons that made hockey my first love as a sport,” said Mrs. Wendell-Pohl. 

Mrs. Wendell-Pohl carried her passion for ice hockey into a successful career. After leading her high school team to a state championship, Mrs. Wendell-Pohl played for the University of Minnesota. In 2005, Mrs. Wendell-Pohl tallied a Minnesota record 24-winning goals, including the deciding goal in the 2005 NCAA National Championship against Harvard. In the same year, she became the first player from Minnesota to receive the Patty Kazmier Award, recognizing her as the best female collegiate hockey player.  

Both during and after her college days, Mrs. Wendell-Pohl represented the United States in 147 total games, scoring 106 goals. During her career, she played in six International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships, including in 2005 when she helped the U.S. win its first-ever gold medal in the event and was named Most Valuable Player. In 2002 and 2006, Mrs. Wendell-Pohl helped lead the U.S. to an Olympic Silver Medal (2002) and an Olympic Bronze Medal (2006) in the women’s ice hockey competition. In the 2006 Olympics, Mrs. Wendell-Pohl served as captain of the team.  

Today, Mrs. Wendell-Pohl has hung up her skates, but continues to make an impact in the sport as an amateur scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. In June 2024, it was announced that Mrs. Wendell-Pohl would add to her long list of accolades as an official member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.  

To learn more about her experience in the LLBWS and her career as a professional ice hockey player, Little League sat down for a special Girls with Game 50 (#GWG50) Six-Inning Conversation with Mrs. Wendell-Pohl:   

First Inning: In 1994, you became the fifth female to play in the Little League Baseball World Series. What do you remember from this experience both on and off the field? 

It was such a whirlwind. I really did not know much about it, so I went into it a little blind. We just kept advancing and then it really was not until we were physically in Williamsport that we realized how big of a deal it was to be there. Baseball is not really Canada’s main sport, we have more winter sports, so the World Series and the reaction from the public was super new to us. We went from working our way through regionals thinking ‘this is cool, this is fun’ to a realization of ‘oh my gosh we are under the lights and on this big stage.’ It felt like our lives changed overnight. 

Second Inning: As a young female athlete, what was the best advice you received? 

It goes back to having fun. As a parent now, I understand that a little bit more because I was such a competitive kid. So even though I might not have wanted to hear it then, being reminded to just have fun and to remember that it is just a game, win or lose, was great. The other piece of advice or lesson that stuck with me is not being afraid to fail and to be okay with being pushed out of your comfort zone. That is where the most growth comes from as you get older. Sometimes things turn out okay as long as you’re willing to take the risk.  

Third Inning: In 2002 and 2006, you were a member of the U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey team for the Winter Olympics. How do you think your exeriences growing up prepared you for this type of spotlight?  

The Little League Baseball World Series definitely prepared me. Even though you don’t think of a Little League game as an environment with high pressure, when you get into the spotlight at the World Series, you feel more pressure than you would expect. It was a huge benefit to have that exposure at a young age… Both of my Olympics experiences are kind of a blur, but my first memory is when we had the Opening Ceremonies. We walked in and it was like ‘oh my goodness, I made it to the Olympics.’ That had been a goal of mine for so longer, to be a part of that team and to just be competing at that level. It’s funny because you remember those moment almost more than you remember the details of any game.  

Fourth Inning: Today, you now work for the Pittsburgh Penguins as an amateur scout, becoming the third female to hold this position within the NHL. What is it like for you to now be “behind the scenes”? 

It has allowed me to continue to enjoy the sport that I love because even though I no longer can play at the competitive level, I can still be involved, participate, and make an impact in a new way. I feel really lucky. The Pittsburgh Penguins have been an awesome organization to work for. When I go to meetings, I don’t feel like a ‘girl’ in the room. I just feel like another mind they are trying to pick and collaborate with, which is a great feeling. There has been a lot of growth and there are a lot of qualified people out there that are now getting the opportunity to be able to feel that same way and continue to work in the sports they love. 

Fifth Inning: If you had the opportunity to speak with a young female athlete who is just starting her athletic career, what advice would you give her?  

It sounds so cliché, but just have fun and enjoy it. The older you get, sometimes the thing you love starts to feel more like a job. When anything starts to feel more like a job, especially when you’re a kid, it becomes less fun… It is also important to learn early how to be happy for other people’s success, too. Sometimes, we are so worried about our own success that we lose that feeling of excitement because somebody else on our team or in our organization is doing better than us. You can be happy for them and still succeed in your own way. Having the ability to be happy for other people’s success and learning how to always find the fun along the way are two ways you can ensure you will continue to love your sport at every level.”  

Sixth Inning: Little League is celebrating 50 years of female involvement in the program. While we celebrate the past, what do you think is the future for females in sports whether it is on the field or behind the scenes? 

It’s interesting because we have seen so much growth in so many areas both on and off the field. Female athletes can not only play at the professional level, but they can now go beyond their career of competitive play and move into management roles and coaching roles, which is awesome. I think there is no limit for women. If we continue to see growth, which only happens if females are willing to work their way up the ladder, then there will continue to be opportunities. I have three daughters, and the opportunities for them are completely different than mine were when I was their age and the only girl on an all-boys team. Now, we see less and less of “the only girl.” Hopefully, one day, we won’t be having conversations about being “the only girl” on a team, it will just be normal, whether that is on the field or behind the scenes. It will be about who is the most qualified for the job and when you’re willing to collaborate and work together, that is when we will see the best results. 

NOTE: To read more of the Special “Six Inning” Features as part of the Little League Girls with Game 50 Celebration, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50. The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’S Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committing to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating for this celebration around key events and milestones this year. 

The post Six Innings with 2024 Hockey Hall of Fame Inductee Krissy Wendell-Pohl appeared first on Little League.

UNITED STATES BRACKET

Great Lakes Region: Hinsdale (Illinois) Little League

Hinsdale Little League was able to power through the Great Lakes Region tournament with a 3-0 record. Illinois walked off Kentucky in the region semifinals sending the league to the championship game against Indiana. Down to their final strike, an 8-7 extra innings victory propelled Hinsdale LL to Williamsport for its first ever appearance in the LLBWS.

Team Info

Metro Region: South Shore (New York) Little League

After falling to New Jersey in its second game of the Metro Region tournament, South Shore Little League battled its way to the championship. In a rematch against New Jersey, Stephen Grippa pitched five shutout innings while collecting two RBIs to take South Shore LL back to the LLBWS for the third time, with its most recent trip back in 2009. 

Team Info

Mid-Atlantic Region: Council Rock Newton (Pennsylvania) Little League

For the fourth straight year, Little Leaguers® from Pennsylvania will represent the Mid-Atlantic Region in the LLBWS. After defeating Washington D.C. in the Mid Atlantic Region championship, Council Rock Newtown Little League finished the tournament with a 3-0 record. This marks the 37^th appearance in the LLBWS from the state of Pennsylvania and Council Rock Newtown’s second appearance. 

Team Info

Midwest Region: Sioux Falls (South Dakota) Little League 

Despite losing its third game to Missouri in the Midwest Region tournament, Sioux Falls Little League powered its way to a rematch with Missouri in the championship. A strong pitching performance from Griff Sommer and timely hitting from Devin Cargin helped propel Sioux Falls LL to the LLBWS for the third time in league history. 

Team Info

Mountain Region: Paseo Verde (Nevada) Little League

Although Paseo Verde Little League lost its first game of the Mountain Region tournament, a no-hitter from Wyatt Erickson in the region championship game helped defeat Utah 2-0. For the second year in a row, Nevada will represent the Mountain Region in the LLBWS, marking the third time the state has made the trip to Williamsport in tournament history and the first time Paseo Verde LL will make an appearance. 

Team Info

New England Region: Salem (New Hampshire) Little League

Despite losing to Maine at the beginning of the New England Region tournament, Salem Little League made its way out of elimination to force a rematch in the championship. Backed by Colton Johnson’s complete game shutout and timely hitting from Patrick DeFrancesco and Jackson Lemire, New Hampshire defeated Maine 2-0 to send them for the first time to the LLBWS.

Team Info

Northwest Region: South Hill (Washington) Little League

Down to its final out in the Northwest Region championship game, South Hill Little League erupted for eight runs in the top of the sixth inning to move Washington past Idaho. This will be South Hill Little League’s first appearance in the LLBWS and the fourth straight year that a league from Washington will represent the Northwest Region. 

Team Info

Southeast Region: Lake Mary (Florida) Little League

Outscoring its opponents 35-8, Lake Mary Little League ran through the Southeast Region tournament undefeated with a 4-0 record. DJ Mieses led the team with two home runs and an .889 batting average, while JJ Feliciano struck out 13 throughout the tournament. This will be Lake Mary Florida LL’s first trip to Williamsport to compete in the series and Florida’s 24^th appearance. 

Team Info

Southwest Region: Boerne (Texas) Little League

Boerne Little League picked up four wins in the Southwest Region tournament to make its way to the LLBWS. With its 6-3 win against Louisiana in the Southwest Region championship game, Boerne Little League will make its first ever trip to the LLBWS, making it the 29^th appearance in the LLBWS by a team from Texas. 

Team Info

West Region: Central East Maui (Hawaii) Little League

Central East Maui Little League will make its second trip to the LLBWS, representing Hawaii in the state’s 16^th appearance. In the West Region championship game, Evan Tavares struck out 13 batters against California to secure the victory for Hawaii and the final spot in the United States bracket for the 2024 LLBWS. 

Team Info

INTERNATIONAL BRACKET

Asia-Pacific Region: Kuei-Shan Little League (Taoyuan, Chinese Taipei)

Kuei-Shan Little League returns to the LLBWS after winning the Consolation Third Place game in the 2023 LLBWS against the Southwest Region. Chinese Taipei has won the LLBWS in 17 of its last 20 appearances, with its most recent championship victory in 1996 (Fu-Hsing Little League). 

Team Info

Australia Region: Hills Little League (Sydney, Australia)

With their victory in the Australia Region championship game, Hills Little League will make its fourth appearance in the LLBWS. Hills LL went 5-2 in the Australian Region tournament and commanded the championship game, winning 16-3. 

Team Info

Canada Region: Whalley Little League (British Columbia, Canada)

Whalley Little League dominated the Canada Region tournament going 7-1 to qualify for the LLBWS. This marks Whalley Little League’s seventh appearance in the international tournament, their most recent trip to Williamsport was in 2018.

Team Info

Caribbean Region: Aruba Center Little League (Santa Cruz, Aruba)

For the second time in series history, a league from Aruba has won the region championship and will represent the Caribbean Region in the LLBWS. After losing its first two games in the Caribbean Region tournament, Aruba Center LL went on a four game winning streak, punching their ticket to Williamsport. 

Team Info

Cuba Region: Santa Clara Little League (Santa Clara, Cuba)

After dominating the Cuba Region tournament with an 8-1 record, Santa Clara Little League is the second team from Cuba to qualify for the LLBWS. Cuba made history last year, competing for the first time ever in the international tournament (Bayamo Little League), finishing with a 1-2 record. 

Team Info

Europe and Africa Region: South Czech Republic Little League (Brno, Czech Republic)

South Czech Republic Little League makes its return to the international tournament after making its first appearance in the 2023 LLBWS. This is the fourth time a team from the Czech Republic will make an appearance in Williamsport, after going undefeated in the Europe Africa Region tournament. 

Team Info

Japan Region: Johoku Little League (Tokyo, Japan) 

For the first time ever, Johoku Little League has qualified for the LLBWS. This marks the 33^rd time a team from Japan will compete in the international tournament and this year’s group of Little Leaguers looks to win the international championship title for the 12^th time. 

Team Info

Latin America Region: Cardenales Little League (Barquisimeto, Venezuela)

Cardenales Little League powered its way to the LLBWS, outscoring its opponents 55-8 in the Latin America Region tournament. This will be the 22^nd time a team from Venezuela will play in the LLBWS. San Francisco LL (Maracaibo, Venezuela) competed in 2023, finishing the tournament with a 1-2 record after being eliminated by Mexico.

Team Info

Mexico Region: Matamoros Little League (Matamoros, Mexico)

Matamoros Little League makes its seventh appearance in the LLBWS, returning to the tournament for the first time since 2022. This marks Matamoros Little League’s 36^th trip to Williamsport to compete in the international tournament, the second most appearances by an international team.

Team Info

Puerto Rico Region: Radames Lopez Little League (Guayama, Puerto Rico)

Radames Lopez Little League makes its second appearance in the LLBWS after dominating the Puerto Rico Region tournament with a 7-0 record. Radames Lopez last qualified for the tournament in 2018 and this year’s appearance will mark the 13^th time a team from Puerto Rico has competed in the LLBWS.

Team Info

In order to make the most of your time at the 2024 Little League Baseball World Series, fans are highly encouraged to download the Little League World Series App to received exclusive opportunities and up-to-date information about every exciting experience at this year’s historic event.

Before heading over to the Little League International Complex, be sure to learn about everything you can do to make the most of your experience, including free parking, our clear bag policy and prohibited item listing, main entrance location, concession options, and more by checking out LittleLeague.org/Visit.

The 2024 Little League Baseball World Series is set to take place August 14-25. More information about the 2024 Little League World Series tournaments, including full schedules and downloadable brackets, can be found at LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries.

The post Meet the Teams: 2024 Little League Baseball® World Series, Presented by T-Mobile appeared first on Little League.

The 2024 Little League Baseball® World Series, Presented by T-Mobile, is quickly shaping up to be a series that fans will not want to miss. Now is your chance to come out and experience history in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the home of the world’s largest youth sports tournament. Before you go, to make the most of your experience, be sure to keep the below 10 important notes in mind:  

Family Fun for Free!  

One of the most exciting parts about attending the Little League Baseball World Series is that there is no cost for admission! In addition to the fun and excitement on the field, the event’s more than 80-acre complex provides countless opportunities for families and communities to come together for once-in-a-lifetime memories, teachable life lessons, and most importantly FUN for fans of all ages.   

Schedule and Activities  

Kicking off the festivities, the Grand Slam Parade will take place on Tuesday, August 13, and Opening Ceremonies will take place the following morning on August 14 at the iconic Volunteer Stadium. With two weeks of action-packed fun and excitement, fans will have the chance to experience 38 baseball games, the Yankees and Tigers visiting for the MLB Little League Classic, the T-Mobile Little League Home Run Derby Championship, the Little League Challenger Division® Exhibition Game, broadcast on WVIA and Presented by Eggland’s Best, and countless hours of fun activities available for all ages at the Little League World Series Fan Zone. To make the most out of your trip to the Fan Zone, download the official Little League World Series App (LittleLeague.org/LLWSApp).  

On Tuesday, August 20, Little League will also be celebrating Dugout’s 39th birthday, remembering the day Dugout made its Little League debut in 1985! To celebrate the day, the first 5,000 fans to visit the Little League Fan Zone will receive a commemorative Dugout birthday pin. Dugout will also have scheduled appearances in the Fan Zone and we invite you to join us during the 4th inning stretch of 7 p.m. game at Lamade Stadium to sing Happy Birthday to Dugout!  

Ticket Information and Seating  

Admission onto the Little League International Complex is FREE and no ticket is needed to enjoy the majority of games of the Little League Baseball World Series. While access into the stadiums varies throughout the tournament, there is always an opportunity to experience history:  

Wednesday, August 14-22 (except Sunday, August 18)  

General public stadium seating in Lamade and Volunteer Stadiums is available on a first-come, first-served basis with no ticket required, except in Section 1 behind home plate. Section 1 requires a “Stadium Pass,” which is not available to the public.   

MLB Classic Day – Sunday, August 18  

To assist with crowd control and provide an enjoyable experience for all fans, Little League will use tickets for access to Lamade Stadium on Sunday, August 18. Section 1 passes will still be valid, with seating in that section on a first-come, first-serve basis.  

All other sections of Lamade Stadium will require a ticket, which will be distributed on the morning of Sunday, August 18, in pairs of two at Will Call starting when gates open at 7 a.m. The single ticket will be for both games scheduled that day in Lamade Stadium and will have section, row, and seat information.  

Saturday, August 24, and Sunday, August 25  

On Championship weekend, tickets are required for access into Lamade Stadium for all Championship games and are typically not available to the general public as they are provided to league volunteers and special guests. If tickets become available, they will be distributed at Will Call on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. and Sunday morning at 7 a.m.  

As always, no ticket is required for the iconic “Little League Hill” or the terraced area overlooking the outfield fence of Lamade Stadium.  

Sunday, August 25 – Consolation Game  

Tickets for Lamade Stadium seating for the Consolation Game scheduled for 11 a.m. (ET) on Sunday, August 25, are currently not required. Please note the stadium will be cleared prior to the World Series Championship game later that afternoon.  

Parking, Travel, Hotels, and more 

With a focus on making the event an affordable and family-friendly event, a limited amount of FREE PARKING is available in the South Williamsport Sports Complex (617 E. Mountain Avenue), directly behind the Little League International Complex. Parking is also available in the Transit Authority parking deck located on Third Street in Downtown Williamsport where River Valley Transit Shuttles are available to transport guests to the Main Entrance of the Little League World Series Complex. The Shuttles are located one block over off Pine Street.  

To make the most out of your trip to the birthplace of Little League, it’s important to know what opportunities there are for you in terms of lodging, transportation, and more throughout the Williamsport area, so be sure to check out the Visitors tab at LittleLeague.org/LLBWS.  

Entering the Complex  

The Little League International Complex will open most days at 10 a.m. and all visitors are required to enter the complex through the Main Entrance located off East Mountain Avenue near the batting cages. Fans will get to journey into the complex in a faster and more enjoyable way thanks to the widened entrance and walkway closer to the parking lot, featuring security gates that will expedite entry into the complex. Complex hours and access details, including a downloadable Complex Map is available at LittleLeague.org/ComplexMap.  

Know Before You Go: What to Bring  

To further expedite your access onto the Little League World Series complex, be sure to check what you are allowed to bring onto the complex before you make the trip, and leave your prohibited items at home:  

• Clear Bag Policy  

• Prohibited Items  

• Permitted Items  

A family-fun event, the Little League World Series is also built to be accommodating for parents, which means diaper bags are permitted onto the complex (subject to search) and a limited number of stroller parking is available at each end of the Lamade concourse. Additionally, a private MamaVa Lactation Pod was added this year for nursing or pumping mothers on the third-base concourse of Volunteer Stadium, offering a private space for mothers to express milk.  

Sportsmanship Starts with You  

The foundation of Little League is rooted in sportsmanship, and the best way to ensure our players and children are displaying positive sportsmanship throughout the tournament is to be a role model yourself. All of our coaches and umpires are volunteers, and the players on the field are all children, so we ask that while you enjoy the excitement and competition that is displayed on the field, you do so in a positive manner during your time at our events.   

Respect Those Around You  

The Little League World Series is a place of inclusion where families, fans, and tourists from all around the world gather together to have a fun and memorable experience, so we ask that you are respectful of the differencing cultures, opinions, and beliefs of those around you.    

Bucket List Bingo  

For families all around the world, making a trip to the Little League Baseball World Series is often one worth checking off the bucket list, so whether you’re looking to make history with your bucket-list visit or if you and your family are coming out to Williamsport for an annual trip, be sure to celebrate every moment with the Little League Baseball World Series Bucket List Bingo Card. Share all your moments by tagging @LittleLeague and by using #LLWS on social media.   

Follow the Action Everywhere 

While attending the Little League Baseball World Series is an experience like no other, we understand not everyone can make it out to every event, so we have you covered! Be sure to follow along and enjoy Little League action all summer long with every game broadcast across the ESPN platforms. Also, be sure to check out LittleLeague.org/Videos for a full slate of highlights, recaps, features, and more to relive the incredible moments that only a Little League program can offer.   

Celebrate the tournament and get all your 2024 Little League merchandise this summer by visiting ShopLittleLeague.org, with free shipping on orders over $50. Once you’re on site in Williamsport, be sure to stop by the new Little League Flagship Store to purchase your favorite souvenir.   

In addition to the five tips above, fans attending the Little League Baseball® World Series, Presented by T-Mobile, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, are strongly encouraged to download the LLWS App to stay up-to-date with all the latest information leading up to and during the event. Learn more and download today at LittleLeague.org/LLWSApp.  

In addition to the exciting two-weeks of activities, Little League is also in the midst of the year-long Girls with Game 50 Celebration. To learn more about the ongoing celebration, including the strategic initiatives for the future, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50. The #GWG50 celebration is proudly supported by DICK’s Sporting Goods, a long-time Little League partner that is committing to creating opportunities for girls and women in sports and will be activating for this celebration around key events and milestones this year, including the LLBWS.  

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