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

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]

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

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

Regional qualifying tournaments were held from June to August 2019.

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

Results

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

United States bracket

Upper round 1Upper round 2Upper finalFinal
August 16 – Game 2
Rhode Island Rhode Island0
August 18 – Game 14 ( F/4)
Virginia Virginia3
 Virginia11
August 16 – Game 4
 Minnesota0
Minnesota Minnesota2
August 21 – Game 24
Kentucky Kentucky1
 Virginia9
August 16 – Game 6
 Hawaii12
Hawaii Hawaii5
August 18/19 – Game 16
Louisiana Louisiana2
 Hawaii6
August 16 – Game 8
 New Jersey0
Oregon Oregon2August 24 – U.S. championship
New Jersey 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

Upper round 1Upper round 2Upper finalFinal
August 15 – Game 1 ( F/4)
Curaçao Curaçao11
August 18 – Game 13
Australia Australia0
 Curaçao0
August 16 – Game 3
 South Korea4
South Korea South Korea10
August 21 – Game 23
Venezuela Venezuela3
 South Korea2
August 16 – Game 5 ( F/5)
 Japan7
Japan Japan20
August 18 – Game 15
Italy Italy0
 Japan5
August 16 – Game 7
 Mexico0
Mexico Mexico5August 24 – International championship
Canada 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

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

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

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

Champions path

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 Arkansas White Hall LL 11–0 (F/4)
Winner's Bracket Semifinal Texas Post Oak LL 4–1
Winner's Bracket Final Texas Midland Northern LL 6–5
Finals Texas Midland Northern LL 6–2

MLB Little League Classic

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

  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.