2019 Little League World Series

The 2019 Little League World Series was held from August 15 to August 25 at the Little League headquarters complex in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Eight teams from the United States and eight teams from around the world competed in the 73rd edition of the Little League World Series.[1] Eastbank Little League of River Ridge, Louisiana defeated Pabao Little League of Willemstad, Curaçao in the championship by a 8–0 score.[2]

2019 Little League World Series
Tournament details
DatesAugust 15–August 25
Teams16
Final positions
ChampionsUnited StatesLouisiana Eastbank Little League, River Ridge, Louisiana
Runner-upCuraçao Pabao Little League, Willemstad, Curaçao
← 2018
2021 →

This was the first championship for a team from Louisiana, and in doing so, they became the first team to win the championship after losing its first game since the tournament expanded to 16 teams in 2001.[2] With a team from Honolulu having won the 2018 championship, this was the first time U.S. teams won consecutive titles since 2008 and 2009.[2]

Tournament changes edit

Among the changes made by the Little League International Board of Directors to the rules, regulations, and policies of Little League was introduction of a rule concerning tied games. Should a game complete seven innings with the score still tied, the offensive team in each subsequent half-inning will start with a runner placed on second base. The runner is the player in the team's batting order who is scheduled to bat last in the half-inning.[3]

Teams edit

Regional qualifying tournaments were held from June to August 2019.

United States International
  Bowling Green, Kentucky
Great Lakes Region
Bowling Green Eastern Little League
  Chungcheong, South Korea
Asia-Pacific and Middle East Region
Chung Nam (B) Little League
  Elizabeth, New Jersey
Mid-Atlantic Region
Elmora Youth Little League
  Sydney, New South Wales
  Australia Region
Cronulla Little League
  Coon Rapids, Minnesota
Midwest Region
Coon Rapids Andover American Little League
  Coquitlam, British Columbia
  Canada Region
Coquitlam Little League
  Barrington, Rhode Island
New England Region
Barrington Little League
  Willemstad, Curaçao
Caribbean Region
Pabao Little League
  Salem, Oregon
Northwest Region
Sprague Little League
  Bologna, Italy
Europe and Africa Region
Emilia Romagna Little League
  South Riding, Virginia
Southeast Region
Loudoun South Little League
  Tokyo
  Japan Region
Chofu Little League
  River Ridge, Louisiana
Southwest Region
Eastbank Little League
  Maracaibo, Venezuela
Latin America Region
Cacique Mara Little League
  Wailuku, Hawaii
West Region
Central East Maui Little League
  Guadalupe, Nuevo León
  Mexico Region
Epitacio Mala Torres Little League

Results edit

The draw to determine the opening round pairings took place on June 13, 2019.[4]

United States bracket edit

Upper round 1Upper round 2Upper finalFinal
August 16 – Game 2
  Rhode Island0
August 18 – Game 14 (F/4)
  Virginia3
  Virginia11
August 16 – Game 4
  Minnesota0
  Minnesota2
August 21 – Game 24
  Kentucky1
  Virginia9
August 16 – Game 6
  Hawaii12
  Hawaii5
August 18/19 – Game 16
  Louisiana2
  Hawaii6
August 16 – Game 8
  New Jersey0
  Oregon2August 24 – U.S. championship
  New Jersey6  Hawaii5
  Louisiana9
Lower round 1Lower round 2Lower round 3Lower final
August 20 – Game 18
August 17 – Game 10  Rhode Island0August 22 – Game 26 (F/5)
  Rhode Island6  New Jersey2August 21 – Game 22  Louisiana10
  Kentucky1  Louisiana4  Virginia0
August 19 – Game 20 (F/4)  New Jersey1
August 17 – Game 12  Minnesota0
  Louisiana3  Louisiana10
  Oregon2

International bracket edit

Upper round 1Upper round 2Upper finalFinal
August 15 – Game 1 (F/4)
  Curaçao11
August 18 – Game 13
  Australia0
  Curaçao0
August 16 – Game 3
  South Korea4
  South Korea10
August 21 – Game 23
  Venezuela3
  South Korea2
August 16 – Game 5 (F/5)
  Japan7
  Japan20
August 18 – Game 15
  Italy0
  Japan5
August 16 – Game 7
  Mexico0
  Mexico5August 24 – International championship
  Canada0  Japan4
  Curaçao5
Lower round 1Lower round 2Lower round 3Lower final
August 19 – Game 17
August 17 – Game 9  Mexico7August 22 – Game 25
  Australia0  Venezuela8August 20 – Game 21  Curaçao5
  Venezuela2  Venezuela2  South Korea3
August 19 – Game 19  Curaçao9
August 17 – Game 11 (F/4)  Curaçao8
  Italy0  Canada1
  Canada10

Crossover games edit

Teams that lost their first two games played a crossover game against a team from the other side of the bracket that also lost its first two games. These games were labeled Game A and Game B. This provided teams who were already eliminated the opportunity to play a third game. This was the last LLWS to have these games.

 
Game A
 
  
 
August 19 – Volunteer Stadium
 
 
  Kentucky4
 
 
  Australia1
 
 
Game B
 
  
 
August 20 – Lamade Stadium
 
 
  Italy3
 
 
  Oregon4
 

Third place game edit

This consolation game is played between the runner-up of the United States championship and the runner-up of the International championship.

 
Third place game
 
  
 
August 25 – Lamade Stadium
 
 
  Hawaii0
 
 
  Japan5
 

World Championship edit

 
Little League World Championship
 
  
 
August 25 – Lamade Stadium
 
 
  Louisiana8
 
 
  Curaçao0
 
2019 Little League World Series Champions
   
Eastbank Little League
River Ridge, Louisiana

Champions path edit

The Eastbank LL reached the LLWS with an undefeated record in nine games.[5] In total, their record was 15–1.

 
The Eastbank Little League team with President Donald Trump in October 2019
Round Opposition Result
Louisiana State Tournament
Winner's Bracket Semifinals Lafayette LL 16–0
Winner's Bracket Final South Lake Charles LL 14–0
Finals South Lake Charles LL 16–0 (F/3)
Southwest Regional Tournament
Opening Round   White Hall LL 11–0 (F/4)
Winner's Bracket Semifinal   Post Oak LL 4–1
Winner's Bracket Final   Midland Northern LL 6–5
Finals   Midland Northern LL 6–2

MLB Little League Classic edit

On August 19, 2018, it was announced that the third MLB Little League Classic would be played on August 18, 2019, at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field, featuring the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates made their second appearance in the annual game, having won the inaugural Classic in 2017.[6] The game was won by the Cubs, 7–1.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Dates and Logos for the 2019 Little League World Series Tournaments Announced". LittleLeague.com. August 19, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Louisiana Wins First Little League Title, Beating Curacao 8-0". Sports Illustrated. August 25, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "New Tournament Tiebreaker Structure and Roster Guidelines Highlight 2019 Little League Rule Changes". LittleLeague.com. December 13, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  4. ^ "First-Round Pairings Highlight Announcements at 2019 Little League Baseball World Series Luncheon". littleleague.org. Little League International. June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  5. ^ "Southwestern Region Tournament Results". Unpage.com. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
  6. ^ Randhawa, Manny (August 19, 2018). "Bucs, Cubs to match up in 2019 LL Classic". Major League Baseball. MLB.com. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  7. ^ "Cubs vs. Pirates - Box Score". ESPN. August 18, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2019.