There is no equivalent to it in any other youth sport anywhere on the planet. The Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, stands in a class by itself in terms of attention.
There aren’t many other 11- and 12-year-old athletes who play in front of up to 40,000 fans at the stadium and are broadcast on ESPN and TSN, and back in the old days, on ABC with legends Jim McKay and Keith Jackson announcing and the likes of Jimmy Piersall and Carl Yastrzemski providing the colour commentary.
“It is the dream of every kid who starts out playing in Little League,” said District 7 administrator Tak Niketas.
“What other youth sport gets this? Like Keith Jackson used to say: “It’s the granddaddy of them all.”
He said that about the Rose Bowl, too, but the point is well taken. The Little League World Series has been around since 1939.
The road to Williamsport for 2024 began Saturday at Hollywood Park with the District 7 playoffs featuring host Beacon Hill, Hampton, Lakehill, Central Saanich, Layritz and National parks. The round-robin portion continues today and Monday with games at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with games at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. The semifinals are next Saturday at noon and 3 p.m. and the final next Sunday at noon.
The District 7 winner advances to the B.C. championship tournament, along with host Lakehill, from July 13-21 at Ambassador Park. Should Lakehill win the District 7 tournament, then the District 7 runner-up will get a berth in provincials. The B.C. champion advances to the national championship tournament from July 29 to Aug. 8 at Cricket Field in Kingston, Ont., with the Canadian champion advancing to the 2024 Little League World Series from Aug. 14-25 in Williamsport.
The B.C. champion will like its chances of getting there. Teams from B.C. have represented Canada in the Little League World Series 28 times. Teams from B.C. have won the Canadian championship every year since 2005, except for 2013 when East Nepean of Ottawa was the national champion, and last year when host North Regina surprised Vancouver Little Mountain 4-3 in the Canadian final.
“I think it’s because our season in B.C., at least on the Lower Mainland and the Island, gets started in March while the rest of Canada doesn’t start until later because of cold weather,” said Niketas, of this province’s domination.
Major-leaguers from B.C. to have played in the Little League World Series include Michael Saunders from Gordon Head in 1999, Adam Loewen of Kennedy-Surrey in 1996 and Jason Bay of Trail in 1990.
The two Island teams to represent Canada in Williamsport were Esquimalt-Vic West in 1974 and Gordon Head in 1999, the latter featuring Saunders.
No Canadian team has won the Little League World Series. The only Canadian team to reach the final was Stoney Creek, Ont., in 1965.
Layritz will host the Canadian championship next year with an automatic berth into nationals and the dream of Williamsport for 2025.
“Layritz is building for next year with a team this year with lots of 11-year-olds. There are no clear favourites this year and the field is wide open in District 7,” said Niketas.
