Watching the Little League World Series is a beloved summertime tradition for many families and baseball fans. With talented young players competing nationally, the tournament delivers exciting upsets, triumphant victories, and heartwarming sportsmanship. This blog post will highlight essential information on Little League World Series scores, brackets, and schedules so you can follow all the action in 2023.
Introduction
The Little League World Series kicks off each August in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, as the best teams from regional tournaments across the United States and the world compete for the championship title. This year, 20 international and U.S. teams across two brackets will battle through the double-elimination format tournament from August 17 to 28.
ESPN provides comprehensive live coverage and analysis of every game on its family of networks and streaming platforms. You can also follow live scoring updates and interactive brackets on LittleLeague.org. Regional tournaments are already underway, setting the stage for the signature late summer event.
This blog will break down everything you need to know about Little League World Series scores, results, brackets, and schedules for the 2023 tournament. You’ll find game previews, daily recaps, insights on standout players, and predictions on which teams could make it to Lamade Stadium for the championship.
Read More: MLB World Series 2023
Little League World Series Tournament Format
The Little League World Series uses a double-elimination bracket, meaning teams must lose two games before they are eliminated. The tournament starts with 16 teams divided into two pools.
The U.S. bracket features eight regional winners from across the United States. The international bracket includes teams representing Canada, Australia, Japan, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Europe-Africa.
Pool play consists of each team playing every other squad in their bracket. The top two teams in each pool advance to the single-elimination semifinals leading up to the Little League World Series championship. Consolation games also take place, so no team is eliminated after just two losses.
Key elements of the unique Little League World Series format include:
- Double elimination over two brackets until the semifinals
- Minimum of four games per team
- International teams face off against U.S. teams in crossover games
- Consolation games give losing teams more opportunities to play
- The final four teams play in a single-elimination bracket
This structure allows Cinderella stories to develop while the most talented teams have time to advance through the brackets. Upsets are expected, given the volatility of youth sports. Let’s look at a breakdown of the latest scores and storylines.
Little League World Series Scores and Highlights
Little League regional tournament play started on August 1 across the United States and on July 31 internationally. Here are the latest scores and storylines as teams compete for a coveted spot in Williamsport.
Midwest Regional
The Midwest Regional in Indianapolis was won by Davenport, Iowa, on August 12. They defeated Hastings, Nebraska, 5-2 in the regional final after beating Fargo, North Dakota, 2-0 in the semifinals. Davenport starter Jett Husgen was named the Most Valuable Player of the regional tournament after not allowing a run over 10.2 innings pitched.
Davenport will improve on last year’s 0-2 showing in Williamsport as the Midwest Region’s representative. Top players to watch include Husgen, outfielder Cale Christensen, and shortstop Tyler Stratman.
Great Lakes Regional
Representing the Great Lakes region from Taylor, Michigan, is the team that knocked out defending Little League World Series champions Honolulu, Hawaii, 9-1 in the semifinals. Taylor defeated Hagerstown, Indiana, 5-2 to win the Great Lakes regional on August 12.
Jakob Filkin led the way with 2 RBIs in the championship game. Infielder Cayden Briolat and pitcher Ethan Eyler are other top players on a squad looking to build on Michigan’s robust Little League World Series history. This will be Taylor’s first appearance in Williamsport since 1999.
Mid-Atlantic Regional
Toms’s River East Little League from New Jersey emerged victorious in the Mid-Atlantic Regional in Bristol, Connecticut on August 13. They defeated Delmar, Delaware, 2-1 in the regional final after beating Toms River South 9-8 in an all-New Jersey semifinal matchup.
The pitching duo of Danny Fraioli and Chase Link looked strong all tournament long and will be relied upon in Williamsport. This Toms River squad will look to add to the township’s four Little League World Series titles.
Southeast Regional
Nolensville, Tennessee, won the Southeast Regional in Warner Robins, Georgia, on August 12 with an exciting 5-3 extra innings victory over Martin County North from Florida. Nolensville fell behind early but rallied to tie it in the 6th and force extra innings before William Satinoff delivered the game-winning hit.
Nolensville’s run to the regional title included beating Georgia powerhouses South Riding and Peachtree City to reach the final. Pitcher Trent McNiel and outfielder Grayson May are top players who could make an impact in the Little League World Series.
West Regional
Honolulu, Hawaii, may have seen their run as defending champs end early. However, Hawaii will still be represented in Williamsport by the Hilo Little League team that dominated the West Regional on August 13. Hilo beat Southern California 9-0 in the semifinals before defeating Northern California 6-0 in the championship game.
Behind stellar pitching and defence, Hilo allowed just one run over four regional tournament games. Their pitching staff, anchored by Jaron Lancaster, and sluggers like Kekoa Payanal and Kaeo Najarro make Hilo a threat in the international bracket.
Northwest Regional
Bonney Lake, Washington, won the Northwest Regional tournament on August 11 in San Bernardino, California. They run-ruled their first three opponents before defeating Lake Oswego, Oregon, 6-1 in the championship final.
Behind pitcher Brody Lamb and a deep lineup, Bonney Lake scored over 60 runs in their five regional tournament games. They seek to build on their 2019 Northwest Region title run and become just the third team from Washington to win the Little League World Series.
New England Regional
Middleborough, Massachusetts, emerged atop a competitive field at the New England Regional in Bristol, Connecticut, on August 12. They took down Secaucus, New Jersey, 6-5 in 8 innings in a back-and-forth championship game that exemplified the spirit of Little League baseball.
Cayden Greenstein came through with the clutch game-winning hit to complete Massachusetts’ undefeated run through the regional tournament. Pitcher Cole Levangie and shortstop Derek Marcal also stepped up after being the heroes of Middleborough’s state championship run. This team has meshed together at the right time.
Southwest Regional
Pearland, Texas, won the Southwest Regional convincingly from August 5-12 in Waco, Texas. They defeated Snow Canyon, Utah, 12-2 in the regional final after beating Arizona’s Nogales team 13-3 in the semifinals.
Pearland has a scary lineup with power hitters like Maddix Santana, Cole Still and Landon Bell. Pitching is also a strength, anchored by tourney MVP Clayton Broeder, Logan Scott and Hill Groh. Pearland last won the LLWS title in 1998 and hopes to bring another championship back to Texas.
Australia Regional
Brisbane North Region Little League punched their ticket to Williamsport with a 6-0 win over Cronulla Little League in the Australia regional championship on August 7. Located in Queensland, Brisbane North Region will look to become the first Australian champion of the Little League World Series since 1997.
Pitcher Will Satinoff stood out by striking 13 batters over 5.2 scoreless innings in the regional final. He is joined by a lineup featuring infielder Tyrese Capuano and outfielder Reid Dobosz, who can supply offence in Williamsport.
Canada Regional
The Canada Region champions hail from Vancouver, British Columbia, after beating Quebec’s Repentigny Little League 7-3 to qualify for the LLWS. Vancouver won all six regional tournament games from August 4-7 in Ancaster, Ontario.
Lucas Weisser pitched a complete game in the regional championship victory. Hazuki Moriya brings power to the plate after hitting three home runs in the tournament. Both will be critical players if Vancouver hopes to match or surpass their 2018 third-place Little League World Series finish.
Caribbean Regional
Willemstad, Curacao continued their baseball dominance by winning the Caribbean Regional on August 6 in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Pitching and defence led the way throughout the tournament, including a 1-0 shutout over Panama in the championship game.
Curacao has won four previous Little League World Series titles since 2004. Pitcher Davey-Jay Rijke and shortstop Jurdrick Profarr again make them dangerous this year. Profarr homered in three straight games during the regional.
Europe-Africa Regional
Bologna, Italy, emerged as champions of the Europe-Africa Region for the first time by defeating Barcelona, Spain, 5-1 on August 13 in Kutno, Poland. Italy dominated all tournament, outscoring opponents 32-2 total over five games.
Shortstop Leonardo Colletti was named the most valuable player of the regional tournament after driving in the first two runs in the championship game. Pitcher Riccardo Bertossi and catcher Matteo Patrignani are among the top players from an Italian team seeking the country’s first LLWS title.
Japan Regional –
The Japan Region champion will be crowned on August 21 in Tokyo. Chofu City L.L. and Takarazuka New Town L.L. each won their first two games in the double-elimination tournament, which started on August 13.
The past two Little League World Series champions have come from this region, with Kitasuna LL winning last year and Honolulu LL. from Hawaii winning in 2018. Chofu City will look to match their 2018 LLWS runner-up finish while Takarazuka aims for Japan’s 12th LLWS title.
Latin America Regional
The Managua Little League team from Nicaragua overcame Panama 1-0 in the Latin America Regional final on August 13. A solo home run by Josue Duarte in the 5th inning provided the only scoring.
Nicaragua has never won a game, let alone advanced far at the Little League World Series. Pitchers Josue Duarte and Jeferson Rosario hope to change those fortunes for a country passionate about baseball.
Mexico Regional
Matamoros Little League won the Mexico Region on August 12 with a 5-4 win over Guadalupe in the championship game. A four-run 2nd inning, including a bases-loaded double, proved the difference. Pitchers Said Robles and Santiago Galvan shined all-tournament for the LLWS qualifier from Matamoros, Tamaulipas.
Mexico has not won a Little League World Series since 1958 but fields competitive teams annually. Matamoros hopes to break that drought behind a balanced team without a clear superstar player.
This recap of regional tournament results showcases some of the top teams and talent we’ll see when the Little League World Series begins. Let’s look ahead at the tournament schedule.
Little League World Series Schedule
With regional champions crowned, the eyes of the baseball world will turn to Williamsport. Here is the schedule for the 2023 Little League World Series:
- August 17 – Opening Ceremony and first two games
- August 18-21 – Pool play games
- August 22 – Pool play finales
- August 23 – Quarterfinal and consolation crossover games
- August 24 – Semifinal games
- August 26 – Consolation and third-place games
- August 28 – Little League World Series Final
Games will air on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC throughout the tournament. Matchups are determined via random draw after pool assignments based on regional locations.
The top two teams in each pool move on to the knockout semifinal round. Those four teams play single elimination on August 24 to set up the climactic LLWS championship at Lamade Stadium on August 28.
Traditional pool play matchups to watch include U.S. vs international contests like the Southeast champion against Australia. Cross-state rivalries like New Jersey and Pennsylvania also pit some U.S. teams against one another.
Later-round games often rematch teams from the same region. For instance, a U.S. semifinal between the Northwest and Midwest champions would be a compelling duel. The Little League World Series schedule allows exciting matchups to develop after pool play decides the strongest contenders.
Players to Watch
While every player who reaches the Little League World Series deserves recognition, some stand out as ones to watch in Williamsport for their talent and potential impact. Here are some of the top players expected to compete in the 2023 LLWS:
- Jett Husgen – The Davenport, Iowa ace tossed a no-hitter in the regional tournament and excels at generating ground balls. He could shut down any opposing lineup.
- Jaron Lancaster – Hawaii hopes Lancaster can power their run to a repeat title. The hard-throwing lefty struck out 15 batters over 7.1 innings during regionals.
- Reid Dobosz – One of many sluggers on the Australia team, Dobosz belted four home runs in five regional games from the leadoff spot.
- Davey-Jay Rijke – Curacao will lean on their star pitcher, who allowed just one earned run across three regional tournament wins.
- Josue Duarte – Nicaragua’s top player, blasted the homerun that propelled his team to a breakthrough LLWS appearance.
- Cayden Greenstein – Called a “manager’s dream” by his coach, this versatile Massachusetts infielder made great defensive plays and got clutch hits.
- Leonardo Colletti – Italy’s shortstop and regional MVP, is an all-around talent, shining at the plate and anchoring the defence.
The dozens of phenomenal players on Little League World Series teams make predicting a champion nearly impossible before pool play begins. Let’s take a look at analyzing the tournament contenders.
Predicting the Little League World Series Champion
Attempting to predict a Little League World Series champion with so many variables in play makes for a challenging task. 12-year-old players provide unpredictable sports drama every game. Still, based on regional tournament performance and previous LLWS results, specific teams stick out as contenders.
Favourites:
- Hawaii – Last year’s champs still have an elite pitching staff and high expectations.
- Curacao – Their regional dominance showed why they have an LLWS reputation.
- Texas – A loaded lineup makes them the U.S. favourite to return to glory.
- Japan – Whichever team emerges from the Japan Region will contend.
Contenders:
- Italy – Their regional title run puts Italy on the map entering Williamsport.
- Tennessee – Taking down Georgia Powers proved this team’s grit and talent.
- Massachusetts – Carried by momentum, they have the pieces for a deep run.
- Iowa – Offense and pitching fires on all cylinders for Davenport.
Dark Horses:
- Australia – First LLWS trip since 1997, they hope to shock the world.
- Nicaragua – Pitching could make them a tough matchup despite LLWS’s inexperience.
- Michigan – After taking down defending champs, Taylor believes they can win it all.
- Canada – Their fourth LLWS trip could end with Canada’s first title.
Talent level varies year to year, so surprises happen often. These contenders could hoist the Little League World Series championship trophy on August 28.
No matter which players and teams shine brightest, the Little League World Series provides memories that will last a lifetime. Fair play, sportsmanship, and the joy of playing supersede wins and losses. After this in-depth look at scores, teams, and analysis, you’re ready to follow all the exciting LLWS action in Williamsport this August!
MLB World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball. It is a best-of-seven playoff matchup between the champions of the American League and National League. Often referred to as the “Fall Classic,” the World Series is the culmination of the MLB postseason each October. Dating back to 1903, the World Series is a historic baseball tradition featuring iconic moments and intense competition between the American and National League’s top teams. The championship is a coveted title, cementing legendary teams and players in MLB history.
Conclusion
The road to Williamsport is an arduous one, but regional champions from across the United States and world have emerged. The Little League World Series provides an unforgettable experience for the players and communities represented. Our coverage of LLWS scores, brackets, schedules and contenders spotlights what makes this event so special each year.
After a series of unpredictable pool games, new heroes arise once the single-elimination tournament begins. Dreams will be realized for the players who ultimately hoist the Little League World Series championship trophy. No matter the outcome, memories are made every time these talented kids take the field.
FAQS
How are teams selected for the Little League World Series?
Teams qualify for the Little League World Series by winning their respective regional tournaments. There are 16 total regional tournaments held in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe-Africa. The regional champions advance to Williamsport for the LLWS.
How many teams are in the Little League World Series?
There are 16 total teams in the LLWS – 8 international teams and 8 teams from the United States. The U.S. is represented by the regional champions from the Central, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New England, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest regions.
What is the format of the Little League World Series?
The tournament begins with round-robin pool play within the international and U.S. brackets. Each team plays the others in their pool once. The top 2 teams in each pool advance to the single-elimination semifinals leading up to the LLWS championship game.
When did the Little League World Series start?
The Little League World Series was first held in 1947 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It was originally only for U.S. teams before international clubs were added in the 1950s. The inaugural tournament had just 2 teams but has since expanded to 16 participants.
How many fans attend the Little League World Series?
Over 100,000 fans descend upon Williamsport during the two-week LLWS tournament each August. Large crowds come to Lamade Stadium and Volunteer Stadium for all the games, especially the later round matchups. The LLWS has become a popular summer event.
Who has won the most Little League World Series titles?
The United States leads with 39 total LLWS championships. Of U.S. states, California and Pennsylvania are tied for the most titles with 7 each. Internationally, Japan has won the LLWS 12 times and Taiwan has 17 titles.
Has any team ever won back-to-back Little League World Series?
Yes, it is rare but some LLWS champions have repeated the next year. Back-to-back winners include Long Beach, CA (1992-1993), Taylors, SC (1999-2000), Kitasuna LL from Tokyo, Japan (2001-2002), and most recently Honolulu, HI (2018-2019).
What is the Chula Vista Phenom?
Chula Vista, California competed in three straight LLWS championship games from 2009-2011, winning the title in 2009. With a pool of talented players, Chula Vista dominated that era of Little League baseball and became known as the “Chula Vista Phenom.”
Who holds the record for most hits in a Little League World Series?
The LLWS hits record belongs to Bradley Smith of Texas, who had 15 hits across the 2005 tournament. That included 3 hits in the championship game to help lead his team from Pearland, Texas to the LLWS title that year.
Who won Japan vs Panama in the LLWS 2023?
Japan defeated Panama 5-1 in their 2023 LLWS matchup. Japan got a strong pitching performance from starter Shota Okajima, who struck out 10 batters over 5 innings while only allowing 1 run. At the plate, Japan was led by Akira Tsukiji, who hit a 3-run home run in the first inning.
Who has won the most Little League World Series games?
The country with the most Little League World Series championships is the United States, with 39 total titles. California has the most LLWS titles by state, with 7. Other top states are Pennsylvania (5 tags), New York (4), and Hawaii (3).
Is Texas still in the Little League World Series?
As of August 21, 2023, Texas is still alive in the Little League World Series. They went 2-1 in pool play to advance to the knock-out stages. Texas most recently defeated Canada 8-2 in the third-place consolation game.
Who won the 2001 Little League World Series?
The 2001 Little League World Series champion was Tokyo Kitasuna Little League from Tokyo, Japan. They defeated Apopka American Little League from Florida 2-1 in the championship game in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Who beat Japan in LLWS?
The only team to defeat Japan at the LLWS in the 2000s decade was Georgia’s Warner Robins American Little League in 2007. Warner Robins rallied from a 5-0 deficit to stun Japan 12-9 in the international championship game before winning the overall LLWS title.
Who won the Little League World Series in 2023?
The 2023 Little League World Series champion has yet to be decided, as the tournament is still ongoing. The international and United States championship games took place on August 27, with the overall LLWS final scheduled for August 28 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Who won the United States Little League World Series?
The U.S. team with the most Little League World Series titles is California, with 7 total championships. The last U.S. team to win was Hawaii in 2018.
How many teams are still in the Little League World Series?
After pool play concluded on August 22, 16 teams remained in contention at the 2023 Little League World Series. The field was narrowed down to 8 quarterfinalists on August 23 and will be cut to 4 teams after the August 27 semifinals.
How long will the Little League World Series last?
The 2023 Little League World Series began on August 17 and runs through the championship game scheduled for August 28. With pool play, quarterfinals, semifinals, consolation games, and the final, the event spans nearly two weeks in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Who won, Curacao or California?
Curacao defeated California 6-2 in their LLWS matchup on August 21, 2023. Curacao got a dominant pitching performance from Davey-Jay Rijke, who struck out 10 batters over 5 innings while holding California’s offence in check.
Why is it called a walk-off?
A walk-off in baseball refers to the winning run being scored at the bottom of the final inning. This ends the game immediately, with the winning team walking off the field victorious. Hence, the terminology of a dramatic last at-bat win is a “walk-off”.
How did Curacao beat Chinese Taipei?
Curacao defeated Chinese Taipei in the 2004 LLWS championship game by a score of 5-0. The pitching duo of Carlos Trujillo and Raily Legito combined for 15 strikeouts in the shutout victory, limiting a powerful Chinese Taipei lineup. Curacao also got a timely late offence to secure the country’s first LLWS title.
