“We are thrilled to announce that Greenville will continue to serve as the home for the Little League Softball World Series for the next few years and we look forward to continue to work with the entire community to bring this event to the next level,” said Ashlea Miller, Little League Softball World Series Tournament Director and Little League Director of Softball Development. “The ‘Road to Greenville’ has become a phrase that thousands of our girls and their families have come to dream about as they journey to become one of the 12 lucky teams to participate in our event. We are thankful to all the volunteers and staff who have continued to invest their time, effort, and excitement into making this event special each and every year.”

Since its debut as host of the event in 2021, which was made up of all teams from the United States due to challenges from the coronavirus pandemic, the LLSWS in Greenville has continued to grow each year since. In 2022, the event saw the return of international teams to the tournament as it became the most watched event in five years, and in 2023 welcomed professional softball athletes from Athletes Unlimited to town as part of a historic event with the first-ever AU Pro Games at the LLSWS. In addition to the excitement both in town and on the field, the City of Greenville was brought into the homes of millions of fans around the world as the 2023 Little League Softball World Series championship game was showcased on ABC for the first time in the event’s history.

“We are thrilled to extend our partnership with Little League and ensure that the Little League Softball World Series will continue to call Greenville home,” said P.J. Connelly, Greenville Mayor. “Our community looks forward to welcoming the players and their families for years to come, and we will continue to do whatever it takes to make it an experience they will never forget.”

Located just inland off the North Carolina Coast, the City of Greenville is filled with accommodations to fulfill the needs of visitors from all over the world and provides visitors a balance of front-porch hospitality and the amenities of a metropolitan university town. In its first three years of hosting the event, the City of Greenville and all the volunteers who come to support it have fully embraced Little League’s purpose, mission, and value and have provided an enhanced experience for the participants, families, and fans from all around the world.

The announcement of the extension also comes during National Volunteer Week, an annual celebration of volunteers around the world, like those from the Greenville Little League program who make up the majority of the Little League Softball World Series Committee and are responsible for making the event a fun and memorable experience each year.

Since 1974, the Little League Softball World Series has provided girls with a meaningful experience to interact with their peers and compete against communities from around the world. Hosted and operated largely by Little League volunteers, the annual event brings thousands of visitors together each summer in Greenville for a week of competitive softball and memorable moments. The LLSWS features top competition from around the world and a unique opportunity for young female athletes to make new friends while interacting and experience a number of different cultures.

The 2024 Little League Softball World Series, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, is set to take place from August 4-11 at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park. Additionally, fans and participants will once again have the unique opportunity to experience the AU Pro Games at the LLSWS, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, as Athletes Unlimited Professional Softball players and their staff return to Greenville for two days of interaction, including a doubleheader at ECU on August 7.

LLSWS INFO AU PRO GAMES INFO

This year’s festivities will also showcase the Little League Girls with Game 50 Celebration as leagues and volunteers from around the world join together to recognize 50 years of girls and women in the Little League program as well as celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Little League Softball World Series.

The 2024 Little League Softball World Series, AU Pro Games at the LLSWS, and the #GWG50 Celebration are all 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. To learn more about the Little League Softball World Series, and to start planning your trip to experience the event first-hand in Greenville, visit LittleLeague.org/LLSWS.

About The City of Greenville

Located just inland from North Carolina’s beautiful crystal coast, Greenville is the thriving economic, medical, educational, and cultural hub of eastern North Carolina. Home to East Carolina University, ECU Health Medical Center, a thriving downtown district, and numerous other parks and amenities, Greenville is a place where no matter where you turn, you will find yourself in good company.

The post Little League Softball® World Series to Remain in Greenville Through 2027 appeared first on Little League.

After serving as the Official Uniform, Footwear, and Coaches Apparel Supplier of Little League^® and the Little League World Series since 2019, adidas has agreed to a multi-year extension with the world’s largest youth sport program, committing their support to the non-profit organization through 2027.

As part of the partnership over the past five years, adidas has designed and created all official on-field uniforms for each of the seven Little League World Series events. adidas has also provided cleats, training apparel, and uniform accessories, as well as athletic footwear and apparel for coaches and managers. Additionally, adidas has launched a line of replica jerseys for fans to purchase at the Little League Baseball^® World Series, which first debuted in 2023. Since 2019, adidas has also created unique experiences at the Little League World Series by hosting the adidas “Maker’s Lab,” a branded experience that engages players and teams to create and inspire.

“For the past five years, adidas has demonstrated incredible support for our players, coaches, and communities around the world with amazing uniforms and apparel. This vital support and funding allows us to create unmatched tournament experiences for every child that participates,” said Liz DiLullo Brown, Little League Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Business Relationship Officer. “The Little League World Series uniforms and apparel continue to be a highlight of the summer experience, and we are grateful for the support to our tournament operations.”

As part of their support of Little League’s Girls with Game 50 Celebration in 2024, adidas has also agreed to supply the uniform for the first-ever Maria Pepe Little League Baseball Legacy Series, set to be held on June 7-9, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

“adidas’ partnership with Little League is founded upon the belief that sport has the power to change lives,” said Aaron Seabron, General Manager, US Sports at adidas. “It is a strong part of our ethos to support athletes at the grassroots level, so we’re proud to continue to give these players top-of-the-line footwear and uniforms, empowering them to strive for greatness during the most treasured sporting events of their youth.”

In addition to their World Series support, adidas continues to provide offers and discounts to all local Little League programs, including their line of unique cleats that are worn on field by baseball and softball superstars such as Julio Rodriguez, Corey Seager, Adolis Garcia, Trea Turner, Jose Ramirez, Kris Bryant, Luis Robert, Kiké Hernandez, Teoscar Hernández, J.P. Crawford, Sis Bates, Aliyah Andrews, and Amanda Lorenz.

To learn more about what adidas can offer to local leagues, as well as what all of Little League’s Official Sponsors can provide, visit LittleLeague.org/Sponsors. Additionally, to learn more about the 2024 Little League World Series events, visit LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries and download the World Series app in the Apple App Store or Google Play. 

About adidas

adidas is a global leader in the sporting goods industry. Headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany, the company employs more than 59,000 people across the globe and generated sales of €22.5 billion in 2022.

The post Little League® and adidas Agree to Multi-Year Extension Through 2027 appeared first on Little League.

With just a few months to go until the official kickoff of the Little League^® International Tournament season, the official schedules, websites, and mobile app for the 2024 Little League World Series are now available for fans to enjoy. This year’s slate of fun and exciting action will once again include more than 340 baseball and softball games broadcast across ESPN Platforms, combining for what is expected to be more than 700 hours of Little League action across its seven divisions of play in the span of six weeks.

While the day-by-day schedules are now available, the official first-round matchups for both the Little League Baseball^® World Series, Presented by T-Mobile, and the Little League Softball^® World Series, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, will be announced and made available in June in coordination with National Little League Week.

In addition to being a global part of the Girls with Game 50 Celebration, honoring five decades of girls and women in the Little League program, this year’s robust schedule of events will officially kick off on Saturday, July 20, with the Little League Softball U.S. Region Tournaments and feature:

• The MLB Little League Classic, Presented by New York Life, between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers
• A celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the Little League Softball World Series, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods
• The return of the AU Pro Games at the LLSWS, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods for the first time this year
• A record-tying 26 broadcast games scheduled to take place on Sunday, August 4
• Increased exposure with the LLSWS Championship once again airing on ABC
• The Little League Challenger Division^® Exhibition Game at the LLBWS, with increased support from Eggland’s Best for the second year in a row, featuring teams from New Jersey and California
• Enhanced on-site World Series Fan Zone experiences in both Greenville and Williamsport
• Additional resources and opportunities made available through the LLWS mobile app
• Little League Community Heroes of the Year Awards, Presented by New York Life

To learn more and stay up-to-date with all the latest news and information, visit LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries and download the World Series app in the Apple App Store or Google Play.

The Little League #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. To learn more about the celebration, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50.

Additional information, including visitor resources, special guests, and more will be made available in the coming months at LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries. To plan your visit to one of the seven World Series events, as well as the region tournaments leading up to them, visit the specific event’s website at LittleLeague.org/WorldSeries. For those looking to cross off the bucket-list trip to Williamsport, start your planning now by going to LittleLeague.org/Visit. Additionally, the dates for future World Series events can also be found at LittleLeague.org/WSDates.

The post 2024 Little League® World Series Schedules, Website, App Now Available appeared first on Little League.

“Coming off such a historic inaugural event in 2023, we are so grateful that Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball is coming back for a second year as we join together in celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of our Little League Softball World Series this August,” said Ashlea Miller, Little League Director of Softball Development and Little League Softball World Series Tournament Director. “Working together with an industry leader like Athletes Unlimited to launch the AU Pro Games has helped increase the spotlight on the game of softball at both the youth and professional level and has become an experience our World Series participants dream about experiencing in August. We look forward to working with everyone at Athletes Unlimited to bring this event to the next level this summer and show the world how important the game of softball truly is.”

Along with the doubleheader set to take place between the Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball athletes at East Carolina University’s softball stadium on August 7, starting at 4:30 p.m. ET and airing on ESPNU, all 60 of AU’s rostered professional softball players and staff will once again spend the day on Tuesday, August 6, interacting with LLSWS participants and provide a day filled with fun, memories, and celebration.

“This event was truly one of the best things we’ve ever done at Athletes Unlimited and a lifetime highlight for everyone involved, so we are thrilled to once again partner with Little League and return to the Little League Softball World Series for its 50^th Anniversary, and are grateful to DICK’S Sporting Goods for its support of such an important event,” said Cheri Kempf, Senior Vice President and Director of Softball for Athletes Unlimited. “The AU Pro Games at the Little League Softball World Series provides an unparalleled opportunity for the next generation of young softball players and community leaders to get up close and personal with their role models while experiencing the best athletes in the world competing at the highest level.”

The inaugural event in 2023 saw a variety of memorable moments, including history being made with rookie Kathryn Sandercock’s parents, Colin and Trish, being named as the 2023 George and Barbara Bush Little League Parents of the Year, marking the first time that Little League Softball parents received the award. The 2013 LLSWS graduate from McClean (Va.) Little League and her family were honored with the award and a custom painting prior to one of the Little League Softball World Series games with her Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball teammates in attendance.

“We are excited to be the presenting sponsor of the Little League Softball World Series and to enter into this new partnership with AU Pro Games”, said Mark Rooks, VP of Creative, Sponsorships and Entertainment at DICK’S Sporting Goods. “We believe sports have the power to change lives and are honored to play a role in helping grow the game for girls at one of the most exciting softball events of the year.”

“Getting the opportunity to interact with the Little Leaguers, watch them compete, and then have them at our games was an unforgettable experience and we’re thrilled to be back this summer,” said Sam Fischer, Chair of the AU Pro Softball Player Executive Committee. “The chance to inspire the next generation of softball players and community leaders is something none of us take for granted.”

The AU Pro Games are just one of the many ways that Little League and Athletes Unlimited have continued to work together as leaders in the industry to grow the future of the game of softball and provide opportunities to generations of girls all around the world. Thanks to the support of Athletes Unlimited through events like this, and other efforts surrounding the Girls with Game initiative, Little League Softball has seen an increase in participation of approximately 8% since 2018 and continues to provide more resources and support to continue this growth through events like this.

The 2024 Little League Softball World Series, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, is set to take place on August 4-11, 2024, with all games played at Stalling Stadium at Elm Street Park in Greenville, North Carolina. Additional information about the 2024 AU Pro Games at the Little League Softball World Series will be shared during the coming months and made available at LittleLeague.org/AthletesUnlimited.

The announcement of the 2024 event is yet another piece of the Little League’s year-long Girls with Game 50 Celebration in 2024, honoring 50 years or girls and women in the Little League program and the launch of the Little League Softball program in 1974. To learn more about the Little League #GWG50 Celebration, including the 50^th Anniversary of the Little League Softball World Series, 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 February 7 announcement of the 2024 event also comes in coordination with the 38^th Annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day^®  (NGWSD^TM), co-founded and continues to be powered by the Women’s Sports Foundation, who is celebrating their 50^th Anniversary in 2024. A vibrant movement celebrated annually, NGWSD honors the achievements of women athletes, coaches, and leaders and continues to Lead Her Forward by acknowledging the power of sports to unlock her limitless potential.

About Athletes Unlimited ^®

Named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies in 2023, Athletes Unlimited is a new model of pro sports, where athletes are decision-makers and individual players are champions of team sports. Athletes Unlimited owns and operates professional women’s softball, lacrosse, volleyball and basketball leagues featuring world-class competition and fan experience, and stands out as an organization driven by the athletes that play in the leagues, with athlete representation on the company’s board of directors, each league led by a Player Executive Committee, and players sharing in long-term profits of the company, all while being proactive in shaping policies supporting the mothers that play in the league. Athletes Unlimited is the first professional sports league to be organized as a Public Benefit Corporation. For more information, visit AUProSports.com.

The post AU Pro Games Returning to Greenville to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of the Little League Softball® World Series appeared first on Little League.

For the past 50 years, the Little League Softball^® program has provided girls an opportunity to make lifelong memories through fun and competition at both the local community level and on the biggest stage as part of the World Series. This year, as it celebrates its 50^th Anniversary, the Little League Softball program is excited to see recent growth as well as continued opportunities lining up for the future.

“On behalf of our entire staff and the millions of volunteers around the world who make this program possible, I want to thank everyone for the role they have played in helping make the Little League Softball program what it is today,” said Ashlea Miller, Little League^® Director of Softball Development. “While this year marks a celebration of 50 years of our program, we have so much more to look forward to in the next 50 years and I can’t wait to help bring the unique Little League experience to millions of children around the world.”

History and Growth

Established as a pilot program in 1974 to gauge interest from local leagues across the country, the Little League Softball program quickly caught the eyes of young women with more than 50,000 girls hitting the fields across 460 Little League programs. Enthused by the abundance of interest, Little League extended the softball program, allowing young female athletes to continue creating core memories at the state and region levels, eventually leading to the formation of the first-ever LLSWS in 1974. In addition to more historical information in the link below, Little League will also be launching a five-part documentary series as part of its GWG50 Celebration to detail the history and future of the Little League Softball program.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY

Since its inaugural season, the program has continued to grow and bring softball to communities all around the world thanks to the millions of dedicated volunteers who step up to the plate. Today, the Little League Softball program has more than 25,000 softball teams and approximately 300,000 participants (ages 4-16) in more than 25 countries worldwide. Since 2018, and with the launch of the Girls with Game initiative in 2019, Little League Softball has seen a growth of 8% in participation across the board and is a key strategic focus as part of Little League’s female inclusion efforts.

Connecting Generations

One of the most important benefits that the Little League Softball program provides is the opportunity to connect generations of the game and offer role models for the young Girls with Game who participate in the program. To enhance those experiences, Little League has worked with a number of its supporters to bring these opportunities to life, including:

• Athletes Unlimited Partnership: With its official partnership created in 2020, Little League and Athletes Unlimited (AU) Pro Softball have worked together to connect the youngest level of the game with the top in the world in a variety of ways. From coordinating live and digital events to engage Little Leaguers with AU athletes to the historic AU Pro Games at the Little League Softball World Series, AU and Little League have worked together to give young softball players a set of role models and mentors to support them throughout their entire softball journey.

• Girls with Game Experience: Since its inaugural game in October 2022, the Little League Girls with Game Experience brings collegiate softball to the home of the Little League Baseball^® World Series, offering young softball players and coaches a chance to network and learn from NCAA Division I Softball players and coaches.
• Partner Involvement: In addition to their own hosted events and opportunities, Little League works with all its official partners to bring the experiences to life both in person and through digital efforts. From T-Mobile bringing top names in the game like Jaiden Fields and Jayda Coleman to meet with players at the Little League Softball World Series to DICK’s Sporting Goods working with the pros to offer tips for young softball players, all of Little League’s official partners have aligned to support female participation across the board.

Setting Up For Success

While the program is celebrating 50 years in 2024, there is so much more in store for the future, including:

• Upcoming Grant Opportunities: This February, Little League will be launching a $250,000 grant program to help invest in the growth, development, and support of female participation across the board. This grant funding will be used for a variety of different areas, including leagues that add softball programs, marketing opportunities to expand existing softball programs, umpire school scholarships for female umpires, scholarships for clinics and other training events, and support of female participation in baseball programs.
• League Choice Option for Ages 4-7: Starting with the 2025 season, children at the youngest levels of the Little League program (League Age 4-7) throughout the United States will have the ability to register and play for any local Little League program they choose, without respect to any geography- or school-related eligibility requirements. Additionally, in an effort to assist these families at these youngest divisions to choose the best league for their situation, as well as to further support the administrative needs of its local league volunteers, Little League International will also be launching a Central Registration Platform, which will be mandatory for U.S. leagues to use starting with the 2025 season. Learn more about both of these at org/2025Registration.
• Training Opportunities for Coaching Females: As part of its overall female inclusion efforts, Little League is also working on creating a training opportunities for its volunteer coaches that is focused on education around coaching females both on and off the field. As a branch of its Diamond Leader program, this training will help provide Little League’s volunteer coaches with the tools and resources they need to provide young girls with a fun and memorable experience from their first year in the program.
• Enhanced Television Coverage: Over the past few years, Little League has worked with its partner at ESPN to bring a larger spotlight to its softball coverage throughout the summer, including the addition of six Region Championship games on ESPN and the LLSWS championship on ABC. With their partnership recently extended through 2030, Little League and ESPN remain committed to continuing to shine the spotlight on the Little League Softball program and bringing the fun and excitement to millions of families all around the world each summer.

To learn more about the entire #GWG50 Celebration, including the 50^th Anniversary of the Little League Softball World Series, 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 League Softball® Continues to Grow as it Celebrates 50 Years appeared first on Little League.

Don’t be afraid to dream big.

In fact, I DARE YOU to dream big, as big as you can.

There is nothing in this world that can stop a fierce girl that is willing to do whatever it takes to follow her dreams. Allow those dreams to guide you throughout your journey.  Never be afraid to be yourself, authentically, all the time, and surround yourself with others that lift you up.

Be a good teammate, always.

Throughout the course of your life, you will forget all the wins and losses, but you will never forget how your teammates made you feel.

Lastly, enjoy the journey and stay present in the moment.

Now, go chase those dreams!

Ashlea Miller, Little League® Director of Softball Development 

NOTE: The “Dear Girls with Game” letter series is a piece of the #GWG50 Celebration in 2024, with written letters from staff members from Little League International focused at inspiring the next generation of Girls with Game. To learn more about this initiative, 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 “Dear Girls with Game” – Ashlea Miller appeared first on Little League.

Here is an inside look at some of what is in store for the #GWG50 Celebration in 2024:

Breaking Down the #GWG50 Logo

Developed by Ologie, the same agency that created the newly branded Little League brand identity and logo, which launched in 2020, the #GWG50 logo is designed to represent the weight and power behind this celebration — the significance of fifty years of girls participating, thriving, and achieving in youth sports. It signifies the boldness it takes to compete, the sharpness needed to excel, and the flexibility needed to succeed in a team setting. The distinct shape of the logo can also act as a container to house our more energetic brand elements. It has the presence to stand alone, and the flexibility to work well and pair with any logo. Throughout the year, the logo will also be expanded in a variety of ways, including alternating color schemes and graphical elements within the logo. In addition to the logo, the campaign is focused around four primary colors that represent the Girls with Game and sets it apart from other entities within the Little League organization –  Little League Blue, Girls with Game Purple, Softball Orange, and Trophy Gold.

An Inside Look at the Content Coming in 2024

Over the next 12 months, Little League will venture through a series of content franchises to honor, inspire, and recognize Girls with Game at every level of the program. Some of those include:

• Speaking Up: A Girls with Game Conversation Series – Featuring a number of special guests, this conversation series will touch on all areas of the celebration, from acknowledging the past and celebrating the present to looking ahead to the future of the program.
• Beyond the Diamond: 50 Years of Little League Softball – This five-episode documentary-style video series is set to showcase the many pioneers of the Little League Softball program, detailing the exciting 50-year history of the program to show how we got to where we are today.
• #GWGPepTalks – Inspired by the #LLPepTalks series that ran through the pandemic, the #GWGPepTalks will bring short video messages from key alumni and role models throughout the program to inspire the young Girls with Game.
• Written Features and Quote Graphics – Throughout the year, with a heightened emphasis throughout Girls with Game month in March, Little League will be profiling its staff, volunteers, and alumni in a variety of ways to showcase their histories and inspire the next generation of Girls with Game. 

Mark Your Calendars

Throughout the course of the year-long celebration, there are a number of key dates and events to keep an eye out for and join in on the celebration either in person or alongside Little League on social media:

• February 7, 2024: National Girls & Women in Sports Day^®
• March 2024: Girls with Game^® Month Celebration
• June 7-9, 2024: Maria Pepe Little League Baseball Legacy Series
• July 28-August 3, 2024: Junior League Softball World Series
• July 29-August 4, 2024: Senior League Softball World Series
• August 4-11, 2024: Little League Softball^® World Series (50^th Anniversary), Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods
• August 14-25, 2024: Little League Baseball® World Series, Presented by T-Mobile
• October 2024 (Date TBD): Girls with Game Experience

Making A Difference

While the #GWG50 Campaign is meant to be a year-long celebration, it is only a small piece of Little League’s dedication to the overall initiative. Promoting and encouraging female participation in Little League is paramount to our core values of inclusion and building community. As we endeavor to create equitability in our program, bring new training opportunities to coaches and volunteers, and grow support for local leagues, it is imperative that Little League communities work together to create new opportunities to attract and keep girls in the program. As part of its strategic goals, Little League is committed to providing equal participation opportunities for girls in Little League by 2032, as well as increasing the percentage of female coaches by 30% in that time. Through this initiative, Little League has also partnered with The Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport and DePaul University to pursue specific research to learn about current strengths and weaknesses related to engaging girls and women in the Little League program and to pilot a coach-training specific to coaching girls.

Additionally, this February, Little League will be launching a $250,000 grant program as part of the celebration to help invest in the growth, development, and support of female participation across the board. This grant funding will be used for a variety of different areas, including leagues that add softball programs, marketing opportunities to expand existing softball programs, umpire school scholarships for female umpires, scholarships for clinics and other training events, and support of female participation in baseball programs. More information about the grant program will be communicated in February when it launches.

LEARN MORE

Help Us Change the Game

The #GWG50 Campaign is designed to celebrate 50 years of female inclusion, create awareness, and stir advocacy for including women and girls in sports, but to truly make a difference, we need help from all our volunteers, families, participants, and communities. Here’s just a few ways you can join in on the celebration, and help us change the game forever:

• Local League Celebration Toolkit: To help its local leagues join in on the celebration, Little League will be putting together a digital toolkit for leagues to utilize all summer long.
• Girls with Game Photo Contest: In March, as part of its Girls with Game month celebration, Little League will be launching a specially-themed Photo Contest for communities and families to showcase their own Girls with Game from over the years and help us tell their stories.
• Join the Conversation on Social Media: All leagues, families, and communities are encouraged to join in the conversation by using #GWG50 and tagging @LittleLeague on all its official social media platforms.
• Share Your Story: If you have a Girls with Game story that you think we should tell, feel free to send us details and any relevant photos/videos to Media@LittleLeague.org.

In Partnership

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.

To learn more about the entire #GWG50 Celebration, including the 50^th Anniversary of the Little League Softball World Series, visit LittleLeague.org/GWG50.

LEARN MORE

The post Little League® Officially Kicks Off Its #GWG50 Celebration appeared first on Little League.

Continuing to celebrate the wins and experiences of Little League® graduates, the World of Little League® Museum has officially opened two new exhibits: the Athletes Unlimited Pro Games Exhibit and the Tom Seaver Little League Legacy Exhibit.  

The Athletes Unlimited Pro Games Exhibit  

Highlighting the impact of the Athletes Unlimited (AU) and Little League partnership, this exhibit features multiple artifacts from the first-ever Athletes Unlimited Pro Games, played during the 2023 Little League Softball® World Series in Greenville, North Carolina.   

The exhibit features tickets from the games, a softball that was used in the first game of the doubleheader, and Team Alexander’s dugout lineup card from the second game, signed by captain Odicci Alexander.

“Our goal is to update the museum frequently to highlight memorable events within the program. The Athletes Unlimited Pro Games held during this year’s Little League Softball World Series were undoubtedly special for the players and fans in Greenville,” said Adam Thompson, Director of the World of Little League Museum. “We are excited to showcase the artifacts from those games, continue highlighting our softball program, and ensure it is represented in our museum.” 

Also in the case, in celebration of a former Little Leaguer now playing professionally with AU, the exhibit also features a signed Kathryn Sandercock jersey. A graduate of McLean (Va.) Little League, Ms. Sandercock played in the 2013 Little League Softball World Series (LLSWS) and continued her career playing at the collegiate level as a Florida State Seminole before being the fourth overall pick in the 2023 AU Softball College Draft. In the 2023 AU Pro Games, Ms. Sandercock played for Team Alexander and wore the purple jersey now showcased in the exhibit. 

The Athletes Unlimited Pro Games Exhibit was added to the World of Little League Museum just in time for Little League’s launch of the “Girls with Game 50” Campaign, celebrating 50 years of female inclusion and the 50^th anniversary of the first-ever Little League Softball World Series in 2024. The exhibit can be found between the Second and Third Innings of the Museum’s six-inning structure. 

The Tom Seaver Little League Legacy Exhibit 

In 1988, Little League selected 12-time MLB All-Star Tom Seaver as the first inductee into the Little League Hall of Excellence, the greatest honor Little League can bestow. Now, 35 years later, Little League continues to honor the charter member with a new legacy exhibit.  

Mr. Seaver was one of Major League Baseball’s most accomplished pitchers, earning him the nicknames of “Tom Terrific” and “The Franchise,” after he helped the New York Mets win their first World Series title in 1969. Highlighting this accomplishment, the exhibit features a patch sold by the Mets in 2021, with the proceeds going to the World of Little League Museum. The exhibit also displays a hat Mr. Seaver wore during his days on the fields of the Spartan Little League in Fresno, California. 

In 2021, due to the impacts of COVID-19, the Little League Baseball World Series featured only U.S. Teams. The 16 teams were split into two brackets, both named after Hall of Famers who embodied the mission of the Little League program during their careers, Hank Aaron and Mr. Seaver. Mr. Aaron passed away in January 2021 and Mr. Seaver passed in August 2020.  

“Tom Seaver was a long-time friend and supporter of the museum. The exhibit will continue to honor his legacy and celebrate professional athletes who got their start on the Little League diamond.” said Mr. Thompson. 

Like other exhibits in the museum, the new exhibit will also have an interactive feature. Guests will be able to operate a touch screen mounted onto the exhibit to learn more about notable athletes from all professional sports, including Patrick Mahomes, NFL quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Sydney Leroux, soccer player with Angel City FC and Olympic Gold Medalist for the U.S. Women’s National Team.  

The exhibit was made possible through the generous support of the Seaver Family, New York Mets, and Baseball Hall of Fame members, Hank Aaron, Ted Simmons, Tony La Russa, Tom Glavine, Willie Mays, the Doug Harvey estate, and the chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Jane Forbes Clark. 

The World of Little League Museum is open Thursday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. While it is closed to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday, groups are welcome to schedule private tours during that time period by emailing Museum@LittleLeague.org. For more information including prices, directions, and more, visit LittleLeagueMuseum.org.  

The Little League Main Gift Shop, located on the main concourse behind Howard J. Lamade Stadium, is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET and fans can always buy their favorite merchandise at ShopLittleLeague.org. 

Visit the Museum

The post New Exhibits Highlighting AU Softball, Tom Seaver Now Available in the World of Little League® Museum appeared first on Little League.

There are certain moments in life that people can reflect on where every detail is so clear, as if it happened just the day before. For Little League® umpires Robbie Guest and Don Brown, receiving a phone call from the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) was one of those moments. 

In addition to their services as Little League umpires, both Mr. Guest and Mr. Brown were invited to umpire at the NCAA 2023 Women’s College World Series (WCWS) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was a milestone in both their careers and a direct result of years of hard work and experience on the field, all of which began with their local leagues.  

To learn more about their careers and their hopes for the future, Little League sat down for a “Full-Count Conversation” with both Mr. Guest and Mr. Brown. 

1-0 Count: Starting at the beginning, what inspired you to volunteer as a Little League umpire? 

Growing up in what he calls “a Little League family,” Mr. Guest spent much of his childhood at the fields of Bloomfield LL in Macon, Georgia. Then, in high school, he became more involved with the league and started keeping score for the games, until one Saturday, an umpire assigned to a game could not make it.  

“I remember when they didn’t show up, I ran out on the field and did a couple of games for the day,” said Mr. Guest. “I don’t know what it is about umpiring, but I enjoyed it pretty quickly and have been doing it ever since.”  

For Mr. Brown, his umpiring story began when his son started playing Little League Baseball®. As part of their local league’s way of ensuring each game had umpires, Mr. Brown and other league parents volunteered as umpires for the division below their kids’ current division. Then, after years of umpiring for LL games, he started volunteering to umpire for baseball and softball of various levels.  

“I loved the game, both baseball and softball, so being able to umpire Little League, high school, middle school, and college ball was a nice way to still be around it,” said Mr. Brown.  

Both Mr. Guest and Mr. Brown grew their umpiring resumes at each level of the game, but they still remember where it all began.  

“Returning to umpire at a Little League game today, there are some differences, but really, it’s all the same. It might be a little different of an atmosphere than a college game or World Series game, but we still umpire the same,” said Mr. Guest. “We treat it the same at all levels because, no matter the age, the game is what is important to them, so it is important to us, too.” 

Since Mr. Guest’s first game, he has gone on to umpire multiple Little League Baseball and Softball region tournaments, various SEC and ACC softball games, the 2023 WCWS, games during the 2021 and 2023 Athletes Unlimited Softball seasons, one season of National Professional Fastpitch softball in 2018, and two seasons of Independent League Baseball, while also serving as a representative for the NCAA Rules Committee for Softball.  

After his first appearance as an umpire in 1996, Mr. Brown has umpired a Little League Baseball region tournament, high school softball games, college softball since 2008, three WCWS (2019, 2021, 2023), Athletes Unlimited Softball games (2020-2023), two seasons of Women’s Professional Fastpitch softball, and is on the Mechanics Committee for NCAA softball. 

1-1 Count: You both were invited and umpired at the Womens College World Series. What was this experience like for you both?  

“I was totally blown away when I got the call,” said Mr. Brown. “I was driving on the interstate and when they asked me if I wanted to go, I had to pull over because I was so excited. I think I even got out of the truck and did a little dance before I continued driving.” 

Mr. Brown would return to Oklahoma City to umpire in the WCWS again in 2021, but it was not until the 2023 tournament that he would get to experience it with the person he has known for more than 20 years and considers to be one of his closest friends in umpiring, Mr. Guest.  

“I remember just listening to the invitation and just being silent for a moment,” said Mr. Guest. “You work your whole career at all different levels, so to have all that work from over the years reach milestones in life like this one, it is difficult to describe, but it really is what it’s all about.”  

For both Mr. Brown and Mr. Guest, getting the invitation to umpire the WCWS was one thing, being in Oklahoma City was a whole other ball game.  

“The experience there was amazing. I never experienced anything like it – the fans, the players, how we were treated there. On and off the field was amazing and I would not have traded it for the world,” said Mr. Bown. “You wish every umpire could experience it because words can’t describe it.” 

2-1 Count: With both of your experiences leading up to umpiring a World Series, whether it be college or Little League, what would you tell current umpires who hope to one day be invited to a World Series? 

“If you want to make it to a Little League World Series or a Women’s College World Series, or whatever it is, you don’t umpire in hopes that one day you could get selected for it, you umpire every game as if you are a World Series umpire,” said Mr. Guest. “That’s my biggest advice to every umpire I speak to – umpire today like you are there because you never know when that door of opportunity will open.” 

Mr. Guest umpired at the 2012 Little League Baseball World Series, an event he says is one that every umpire who gets the chance to do it should reflect on often and remember every moment. Mr. Brown, after his three WCWS appearances, agrees. 

“Just soak it all in. Once you walk out onto the field, just remember that it’s game time. It’s time to umpire and focus on the game,” said Mr. Brown. “But, when you’re off the field, enjoy everything about it. Walk around and see everything you can, take pictures and videos because you will look back at them all the time. Just work as hard as you can, but enjoy every moment that you can, too.” 

2-2 Count: Outside of Little League, you both have umpired at various levels, most recently adding Athletes Unlimited Softball to that growing resumé. What do you both think of the growth of professional softball and its connection with youth players?  

“It is very important. I know that kids look up to athletes and how they play. They take notice of how they handle bad situations, good situations, excitement, and adversity,” said Mr. Guest. “The way that the women’s game has exploded, you just have more and more kids watching it and connecting across the levels.”  

Launched in 2020, Athletes Unlimited is a professional softball league with an innovative new scoring system where players earn points based on team victories and individual performances. A dedicated partner of Little League, both programs made history this year with the first-ever Athletes Unlimited Pro Games at the 2023 Little League Softball World Series (LLSWS).  

“The athletic ability we saw again this year at Athletes Unlimited was unreal. Some of the plays that were made and some of the at-bats were amazing,” said Mr. Brown. “I was at a restaurant, and they had the AU Pro Games at the LLSWS on the television. There were two Little League teams in there and they were all just watching the game up on the screen and talking about the game. There was a glow from the girls as they watched.” 

3-2 Count: What advice would you both have for those who are on the fence of volunteering as an umpire next season? 

“I would tell the person who is thinking about becoming an umpire to find a mentor, and then to talk with their League Administrator to find out where they can do the training. If you want to do it, all the pieces are there,” said Mr. Guest.  

If you did not play baseball or softball growing up, Mr. Brown notes that you don’t have to be an athlete to be an umpire.  

“The training is there. You just have to find someone who enjoys umpiring as much as we do, and just have a conversation with them,” said Mr. Brown. “We really just need more umpires. The profession is getting slimmer and slimmer with the numbers. If you enjoy the game, it is a fantastic way to be around it.”  

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

The post A “Full-Count Conversation” with Umpires Robbie Guest and Don Brown appeared first on Little League.

“Last year’s first ever Girls with Game Experience was such a remarkable event for not only the Little Leaguers who came to participate, but for the coaches and players from Penn State and Maryland who served as role models for these young girls,” said Ashlea Miller, Little League Director of Softball Development. “We are so excited to bring back this event once again in 2023 and welcome two new teams as we look to enhance the experience for everyone involved and grow the game of softball at every level. We strongly encourage any softball player or coach who may be interested, even if it’s their first year involved in the sport, to register today and experience this unique and memorable event.”

Launched in coordination with Penn State, Maryland, Bucknell, and Army, as well as MBI Camps, the 2023 Girls with Game Experience on Saturday, October 21, will feature a three-hour instructional clinic for females ages 9-14, led by representatives from each of the four Division I Universities starting at 9 a.m. ET. After the clinic, all registrants will have the opportunity to watch their instructors take the field in a pair of back-to-back exhibition games starting at 2 p.m. on Howard J. Lamade Stadium, the home of the Little League Baseball World Series Championship every August. Following the games, participants of the clinics will have the opportunity to interact and sign autographs with the Division I college athletes.

The registration fee for those interested in attending the softball clinic is $90 and will cover a clinic T-shirt, admission to the World of Little League^® Museum, lunch, and special seating at the exhibition games. To learn more, and register for this year’s event, please visit LittleLeague.org/GWGExperience.

LEARN MORE REGISTER NOW

In addition to the all-day event on Saturday, October 21, Little League Softball^® coaches will have the exclusive opportunity to participate in a coaches’ clinic on Friday, October 20, from 5-8 p.m. The clinic will be hosted by college coaches from MBI Camps and will feature skills and techniques for Little League Softball coaches of every level.

The exhibition games on October 21 are open to the public and has no cost of admission to attend. Seating within the stadium, outside of those seats reserved for clinic registrants behind home plate, will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and no ticket is required. Fans looking to attend the game are asked to enter the Little League International Complex via the entrance at East Mountain Avenue and will be directed to park in the parking lot in the outfield of Volunteer Stadium, along Borderline Road. Concessions will be available, and visitors are encouraged to stop by the Little League Main Gift Shop, located on the concourse behind home plate of Lamade Stadium.

The unique, all-day event is named in celebration of the Little League Girls with Game initiative which was launched in 2019 to honor all the girls and women who have made the Little League program what it is today and those who inspire the future generation of female participants at every level. From written stories and feature videos to inspiring quotes and photos across all its digital media platforms, the Girls with Game initiative celebrates the memorable moments, exciting events, and inspiring individuals throughout the Little League Baseball and Softball program all year long. To learn more about this initiative, visit LittleLeague.org/GirlsWithGame. In 2024, Little League will also be celebrating 50 years of female inclusion and the 50^th Anniversary of the Little League Softball^® World Series with its Girls with Game 50 Campaign (#GWG50). Learn more at LittleLeague.org/GWG50.

To learn more about the 2023 Girls with Game Experience event on October 20-21, please visit LittleLeague.org/GWGExperience. Any questions or interest in participating in future events can be directed to Ashlea Miller, Little League Director of Softball Development, by emailing AMiller@LittleLeague.org.

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