At the core of the Little League^® program is the more than one million volunteers who dedicate their time to providing children in their community with a fun and memorable experience. To celebrate their support and plan for the future of the organization, Little League International is pleased to once again bring all its volunteers together as part of its Region Roundtables in 2024 and the 29^th International Congress in 2026.

“Volunteers are the foundation of the Little League program, and our International Congress and Roundtable events give us the opportunity to hear first-hand from our highest level of volunteers as we continue to grow our program and provide the best possible experience to children all around the world,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “We look forward to bringing everyone together at our five U.S. Region events in 2024, and in Indianapolis in 2026, as we work with our millions of dedicated volunteers to make the Little League experience more memorable each year.”

2024 Little League Region Roundtables

First established in 2012, the Region Roundtables provide an opportunity for District Administrators and Assistant District Administrators to gather in their respective region, and to participate in educational sessions, rules and regulations discussions, International Board of Director elections, and more.

During the 2024 Region Roundtables, attendees can look forward to an engaging weekend with fellow volunteers and Little League staff in an effort to chart the course for the future of Little League. Below are the dates and locations for the five U.S. Region Roundtable events:

• West Region: January 19-21 – Anaheim Hilton (Anaheim, California)
• Southwest Region: February 8-11 – Hilton Houston Post Oak by the Galleria (Houston, Texas)
• Southeast Region: March 1-3 – Embassy Suites by Hilton Greenville Golf Resort and Conference Center (Greenville, South Carolina)
• East Region: March 8-10 – Hilton Providence (Providence, Rhode Island)
• Central Region: March 15-17 – Westin Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Held every four years, the U.S. Region Roundtable meetings are conducted by members of the Little League Region and International Staff. A key component to the meeting is to have each of the D.A.s review and discuss suggested rule and regulation changes with their regional peers. This discussion is necessary to gain the knowledge of how the rule or regulation would impact constituent leagues.

Specific details about each of the U.S. Region Roundtable events, including travel stipends, hotel reservation links, schedules, agendas, and more, will be communicated directly to District Administrators over the coming months. For more information on the Region Roundtable events, visit LittleLeague.org/RegionRoundtables.

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2026 Little League^® International Congress

Following an exciting gathering at the birthplace of Little League in 2022, Little League^® International is pleased to announce that the 29^th Little League International Congress is set to take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, on February 6-9, 2026.

First launched in 1956, the Little League International Congress is held every four years to help chart the course of the world’s largest organized youth baseball and softball program. More than one thousand Little League volunteers from around the globe attend the Little League International Congress, with nearly 450 attending as volunteer District Administrators, or delegates, who serve as liaisons between the local leagues and Little League International.

During the Congress event, all the attendees are provided with unique opportunities that include being educated on Little League’s initiatives, opportunities, and potential future rule and regulation changes while providing input to enhance the program for communities all around the world. Little League International is continuing to bring new, exciting opportunities to enhance the event for all Little League volunteers.

More details, as they become available, will be communicated directly with District Officials and other potential attendees closer to the event. To learn more about the Little League International Congress, including a history of previous events, visit LittleLeague.org/Congress.

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Following the unique, democratic process established by Little League International in the mid-1950s to help chart the future of the organization, the International Board of Directors officially approved six rule and regulation items to be implemented for the 2023 season, as voted on by District Administrators. These items were discussed and voted upon following the Little League International Congress event, which was held from June 11-13 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

“With the unique structure of this year’s Congress event, our attendees and District Administrators were presented not only with a number of rule and regulation updates, but also with three larger tactical items to innovatively move the Little League program forward,” said Patrick W. Wilson, Little League Chief Operating Officer. “Those tactical items will continue to be discussed and evaluated with our volunteers and membership, with the rule and regulation items that received enough support from our District Administrators being implemented for the 2023 season.”

Approved items include easing the implementation of the program at the local level by clarifying tryout participation for players; permitting coaches to warm up pitchers for regular season games; implementing a regular season, 8-run rule; updating the intentional walk rule; and expanding the number of coaches in the dugout for tournament games. Unapproved items, which failed to receive the required two third super majority votes to be referred to the board of directors, include expanding Tee Ball to three-year-olds, runners leaving the base too soon, and the release date of tournament team names.

Voting results and recommendations for the three tactical items (centering around league boundaries, the Little League teenage divisions, and selecting future District Administrators) will be prepared by Little League International Staff for future discussions with District Administrators, the International Advisory Board and the board of directors Operations Committee. Please be on the lookout for additional information and opportunities to continue discussing these tactical items.

“We thank all of those who joined us in Williamsport for Congress and especially all the District Administrators who voted for sharing their views on how to continue to enhance the Little League program,” said Mr. Wilson. “These updated rules and regulations will continue to make it easier for our adult volunteers to provide a meaningful experience for the Little Leaguers in their communities starting with the 2023 season. We look forward to continuing to assess the tactical items to make meaningful, strategic decisions to help expand and evolve the Little League program.”

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With the event officially concluded, it is time to look back at what transpired during the 2022 Congress:

Opening Convocation (Community Arts Center)

Before officially getting underway, the 28^th Little League International Congress began with a tribute to those who were lost in the tragic shooting that took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. To honor and support the Uvalde community, Little League International announced Uvalde (Texas) Little League as the recipient of the 2022 Carl E. Stotz Little League Community Award, which was presented to Rachel Lathe, Texas District 21 Administrator, on the league’s behalf.

Following the tribute, attendees were greeted with a welcome video by 1989 LLBWS alumnus and Little League International Board of Directors member, Chris Drury, and former LLBWS broadcaster, Brent Musburger, which was also complimented with a live, staged reenactment by youth members of the Williamsport Community Theater League.

After opening remarks by Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter and Pennsylvania Senator Gene Yaw, the Little League Chairman’s Award was presented to retired MLB umpire, Gerry Davis, for his ongoing support and dedication to the Little League program. Little League International also recognized Karen Stotz Myers, daughter of Little League founder Carl E. Stotz, with a surprise bouquet of flowers.

Attendees then had the opportunity to look back at the past four years since the last Congress in New Orleans, and remember those who were lost with a retrospective video, before Tim Hughes, Chairman of the 28^th Little League International Congress, welcomed the field directors of the Little League International Board of Directors to announce their delegation in attendance and officially kick off the weekend’s event.

Finally, to wrap up the night’s festivities and celebrate the 75^th Anniversary of the Little League Baseball^® World Series in August, Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO, welcomed a trio of former LLBWS Champions in Luke Ramirez (2009), Todd Frazier (1998), and Jose “Pepe” Maiz (1957) to the stage for a panel discussion to talk about their experiences playing in Williamsport and the memories they made.

Welcome Reception, Presented by A.D. STARR (Pennsylvania College of Technology)

Following the Opening Convocation, attendees were welcomed over to the Madigan Library at the Pennsylvania College of Technology for a Welcome Reception, presented by A.D. STARR, to give the D.A.s and other guests from around the world the opportunity to connect and share their stories heading into the weekend’s festivities.

Education Sessions and Panel Discussions (Penn College/Community Arts Center)

Throughout the entire weekend, Little League staff and other experts (including representatives from the Positive Coaching Alliance, The Aspen Institute, and more) shared their insight, expertise, and guidance to help plan for the future of the organization in a series of panel discussions, educational opportunities, and question and answer sessions. During the sessions, Little League International also announced the pilot launch of its new Little League Diamond Leader Training Program, a free coaching education tool focused on social and emotional learning.

Umpire Clinic Featuring Gerry Davis (Little League International Complex)

Hosted by Little League International and featuring Retired MLB Umpire Gerry Davis as a guest instructor, the In-Person Umpire Clinic provided District Umpires-in-Chief and other district staff the opportunity to train and learn how to help train volunteers to officiate games using a two-umpire system on Howard J. Lamade Stadium.

Volunteer Recognition Luncheon (Genetti Hotel)

On Sunday, June 12, 2022, Little League Baseball and Softball’s highest-level volunteers from around the world were honored for their service during a luncheon ceremony at The Genetti Hotel. The selected D.A.s were presented with the Little League International Meritorious Service Award while the A.D.A.s were presented with the Assistant District Administrator Little League International Commendation. Both awards are only presented every four years at the Little League International Congress.

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Chairman’s Celebration (Little League International Complex)

Rounding out the weekend’s festivities was the Chairman’s Celebration at the Little League International Complex, the annual home of the Little League Baseball World Series. Following an Open House to allow attendees an exclusive inside look at some of the facilities around the complex used by the teams each summer, members of the Little League Challenger Division^® from East Lycoming Little League (Hughesville, Pa.) and Jersey Shore (Pa.) GSV Little League took to Volunteer Stadium for a Challenger Exhibition Game.

After a lunch buffet for the volunteers on the concourse, guests headed over to Lamade Stadium to watch the first ever Little League Sandlot Fun Days event to take place on the Little League International Complex, with players from East Lycoming Little League (Hughesville, Pa.) and Jersey Shore (Pa.) GSV Little League taking to the field in a player-led, unstructured opportunity where the kids make the rules, make the lineups, and make the calls.

Once all the fun on the field was over, Hugh E. Tanner, Little League International Board of Directors Chairman, announced James L. Easton as the winner of the 2022 Peter O’Malley Distinguished Little League Ambassador Award, given to an individual who has made a contribution to the advancement of the Little League program, both domestically and abroad. Earlier in the day, Little League International also recognized Joe Patterson and Plinio Castillo-Ruiz as the Peter J. McGovern Distinguished Service Award recipients, as well as Bob McKittrick as the Little League President’s Award winner.

Before officially closing out Congress, A pair of local Little Leaguers^® from Pennsylvania District 12, Alexandra Maeulen and Jacob Mercado, worked with Little League’s Mascot, Dugout, to help randomly select the baseballs and softballs to decide this year’s first-round matchups for the 2022 Little League Baseball and Little League Softball World Series events.

LLBWS BRACKET    LLSWS BRACKET

Finally, rounding out the exciting weekend in Williamsport was an exclusive acoustic performance by rising country music artist, Conner Smith, who last stepped onto Howard J. Lamade Stadium as a 12-year-old playing for the South Nashville (Tenn.) Little League in the 2013 Little League Baseball World Series.

Throughout the entire weekend, attendees also had a chance to check out a brand-new exhibit in the Madigan Library at the Pennsylvania College of Technology that celebrated the 75^th Anniversary of the Little League Baseball World Series. The exhibit will be on display on the third floor of the Madigan Library from June 7 through August 25, 2022.

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James L. Easton, longtime Little League^® supporter and founder of The Easton Foundations, has been named the recipient of the 2022 Peter O’Malley Distinguished Little League Ambassador Award as part of the 28^th Little League International Congress celebration.

First presented at the Little League International Congress in 1992, the Peter O’Malley Distinguished Little League Ambassador Award recognizes an individual who has made a contribution to the advancement of the Little League program, both domestically and abroad. Mr. O’Malley, the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was the first recipient of this honor in recognition of his long-time commitment and service to Little League International. Mr. Easton was presented the award at his home in Los Angeles by Mr. O’Malley as part of a virtual conversation with Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO, back in May 2022 and was again recognized during the Chairman’s Celebration at the Little League International Complex on June 13, 2022.

“It is my honor to present this award to Jim as a token of our gratitude for his commitment to the program these past five decades,” said Mr. Keener. “Jim’s contributions to our organization, and his dedication and passion for the mission of Little League and all of youth sports, has helped us to provide memorable experiences to children in communities all around the world and teach life lessons through the game of baseball and softball each year.”

Mr. Easton has been a supporter of the Little League program for the past 50 years and has helped lead the sports equipment industry to strengthen its focus on the growth and development of youth sports, specifically baseball and softball. As a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Mr. Easton has also helped coordinate the support and international growth of youth sports, including Little League. Thanks to those efforts, Little League International now offers youth baseball and softball in more than 80 countries around the world and continues to showcase those experiences during its seven Little League World Series events each summer.

For more than 40 years, Easton Baseball/Softball has also been the “Official Team Equipment Supplier” of Little League and each year the organization provides equipment to participants at both the Little League Baseball and Softball World Series tournaments.

While Mr. Easton sold the Easton company in 2006, his support to youth sports and the Little League program continued through the support of The Easton Foundation Over the past decade, Mr. Easton and the Easton Foundation committed the funding to help each of the five U.S. region facilities install brand new scoreboards and in 2018 contributed to allow the installation of three new videoboards to provide an enhanced fan experience at the Little League Baseball^® World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Former Peter O’Malley Distinguished Little League Ambassador Award Recipients:

• 1992: Peter O’Malley
• 1995: George H.W. Bush
• 1998: Stan Musial
• 2001: Ed Piszek
• 2004: Tom Ridge
• 2007: Eric Hilton
• 2010: George W. Bush
• 2014: Jin Roy Ryu

To learn more about the Little League International Congress, visit LittleLeague.org/Congress.

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For the first time in the history of the award, two District Administrators have been named as recipients of the Peter J. McGovern Distinguished Service Award as Joe Patterson (Texas District 31) and Plinio Castillo-Ruiz (Panama District 1) were recognized for their service during the 28^th Little League International Congress in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Presented at the Little League International Congress since 1958, the Peter J. McGovern Distinguished Service Award recognizes the special efforts of an individual who has embraced the ideals of Little League and, in turn, exemplifies the benefits of children learning life lessons through playing Little League Baseball and Softball.

“While this award is traditionally presented to only one volunteer at our Congress event, each of these two individuals are well-deserving of this recognition and we are pleased to present both of them with this honor, here in the birthplace of Little League,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “As a token of our appreciation from our entire staff at Little League International, and on behalf of the millions of children our District Administrators serve each year, we are pleased to present this award to Joe and Plinio and are thankful for their dedication, commitment, and support of the Little League program throughout their district.”

Joe Patterson (Texas District 31)

Currently serving as the Texas State Coordinator, in addition to his role as the Texas District 31 Administrator, Joe Patterson has been a Little League volunteer for more than 36 years and prides himself in carrying out the mission of Little League Baseball and Softball. During his tenure as a Little League volunteer, Mr. Patterson served as a Field Director on the Little League International Board of Directors from 2012-16 and helped guide the direction of the program to where it is today. Mr. Patterson first got involved with the Little League program as a coach for his son’s team nearly four decades ago and has been a dedicated volunteer ever since.

Plinio Castillo-Ruiz (Panama District 1)

Serving as the Country Director for Panama, Plinio Castillo-Ruiz has led the organization and supervision of the 8- to 10-year-old division, Major division, Junior division, and Senior division country tournaments throughout Panama each year. Through his leadership, Panama has since become the country with the second most teams throughout the Latin America Region with a steady increase in teams over the past five years. This year also marks the first year that Panama will received direct entry to the Little League Baseball World Series as part of the event’s expansion, with Aguadulce Cabezera Little League representing the country in this year’s tournament. Over the years, Panama has been engrained in the history of the Little League program, even outside of the World Series. In 1950, the first leagues outside the United States were formed on either side of the Panama Canal with the Pacific and Atlantic Little Leagues of Balboa.

Former Peter J. McGovern Distinguished Service Award Recipients

• 1958 – Arnold White
• 1960 – Perry Winstead
• 1961 – Harris Plaisted
• 1963 – Nick Aromandi
• 1965 – Joe Eckert
• 1967 – Art Mikelsen
• 1969 – Bill Robertson
• 1971 – Faith Colombo
• 1973 – Pat Knight
• 1975 – Ellen & Luckey Porterfield
• 1978 – Y. Hada
• 1981 – H. Taylor Bell
• 1984 – James Whittington
• 1987 – Milton F. Ziehn
• 1989 – Reuben B. Hill
• 1992 – George Berardi
• 1995 – Fred Taylor
• 1998 – Richard Buckelew
• 2001 – Joe Shea
• 2004 – Jake Hardison
• 2007 – Tony Richardson
• 2010 – Paul Flanagan
• 2014 – Maryellen Holden

To learn more about the Little League International Congress, visit LittleLeague.org/Congress.

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Little League^® International has named Bob McKittrick, California District 38 Administrator, as the 2022 President’s Award recipient as part of the 28^th Little League International Congress in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Presented at the Little League International Congress since 1987, the President’s Award recognizes an individual for their friendship, assistance, and leadership to the Little League program.

“For more than 50 years, Bob has gone above and beyond the call of a Little League volunteer to ensure that all of the children throughout his community have a memorable experience on and off the field,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “It is my honor to present the President’s Award to Bob as a token of our appreciation for the commitment he has made to his community, and to the entire Little League program.”

One of the volunteers to help start West Long Beach (Calif.) Little League in 1968, Mr. McKittrick has been a longtime volunteer within the Little League program. Following a year of coaching at West Long Beach Little League, Mr. McKittrick spent two years coaching at Plaza Little League before stepping up as a member on the league’s Board of Directors in a variety of roles for more than a decade. In 1984, after more than 15 years of service at the local level, he was elected as a District Administrator (D.A.), where he continues to serve today.

From 2001-04, Mr. McKittrick served as one of the West Region representatives on the Little League International Advisory Board, helping provide counsel and recommendations to the Little League Baseball and Softball staff and senior management. Additionally, he spent three years on the West Region Advisory Board and also served as a North Section Representative for the Southern California District Administrators Association, helping provide direction for the other volunteers within his region, state, and district.

In addition to his role on the Board and as a District Administrator, Mr. McKittrick also served as a volunteer umpire during the 2007 Little League Baseball^® World Series, serving as the third-base umpire for the United States Championship between Warner Robins (Ga.) American Little League and Lubbock (Texas) West Little League.

Former Little League President’s Award Recipients

• 1987 – Ted Ferreira
• 1989 – Robert W. Fiondella
• 1992 – Russ Tinsley
• 1995 – Jose “Pepe” Gonzales
• 1998 – Bob Kloss
• 2001 – Mike “Doc” Lantierre
• 2004 – Greg Bzura
• 2007 – Joe Crookham
• 2010 – Paul Gray
• 2014 – Pitch in for Baseball

To learn more about the Little League International Congress, visit LittleLeague.org/Congress.

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Prior to Congress, each of Little League’s nine Region Directors (five U.S. and four International) have the opportunity to nominate one District Administrator (D.A.) and one Assistant District Administrator (A.D.A.) from their respective region for this award. The selected D.A.s are presented with the Little League International Meritorious Service Award while the A.D.A.s are presented with the Assistant District Administrator Little League International Commendation. Both awards are only presented every four years at the Little League International Congress.

“On behalf of all of us at Little League International, as well as the millions of players and volunteers that this organization serves each year, I would like to congratulate these committed individuals for their dedication to ensuring every child has an incredible Little League experience,” said Hugh E. Tanner, Little League International Board of Directors Chairman. “Our District Administrators and Assistant District Administrators represent the highest level of volunteers within our program, and these well-deserving recipients serve as inspiring role models for future generations of volunteers to come.”

Here are the D.A.s and A.D.A.s who received the awards at the 28^th Little League International Congress:

Little League International Meritorious Service Award (D.A.s)

• Central Region: Derek Lisby, Indiana District 7
• East Region: Carmine Conti, New Jersey District 7
• Southeast Region: Dewey Hudman, Florida District 17
• Southwest Region: Michael Marler, Louisiana District 2
• West Region: Milan Mrakich, California District 18
• Asia-Pacific Region: Steve Mita, Japan District 1
• Canada Region: Corinne Chow, Canada District 6
• Europe and Africa Region: Kehinde Laniyan, Nigeria District 1
• Latin America Region: Edward Claude, Bahamas District 1

Assistant District Administrator Little League International Commendation (A.D.A.s)

• Central Region: Bob Anderson, Wisconsin District 1
• East Region: Marie Shea, Massachusetts District 12
• Southeast Region: Lisa Cartledge, Georgia District 7
• Southwest Region: Pam Stanley, New Mexico District 9
• West Region: Valarie Walton, Nevada District 2
• Asia-Pacific Region:J. Palacios Murig, Saipan District 1
• Canada Region: Jim Rogers, Canada District 3
• Europe and Africa Region: Kyryl Kozhusko, Ukraine District 1
• Latin America Region: Jaime Lozano, Mexico District 2

In addition to being recognized at the luncheon, each of the award recipients will also be honored during the morning panel sessions at the Community Arts Center on Monday, June 13, 2022.

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Little League^® International has named Gerry Davis as the recipient of the 2022 Little League Chairman’s Award during the Opening Convocation of the 28^th Little League International Congress.

“Gerry Davis has been an incredible supporter of the Little League program over the past five years and has continued to find new ways to provide training, education, support, and inspiration to all the volunteer umpires within our organization,” said Hugh E. Tanner, Little League International Board of Directors Chairman. “On behalf of the millions of volunteer umpires who serve our leagues around the world, and the teams they support, we are honored to present this award to Gerry and are thankful for all he does to enhance the Little League experience.”

Established in 2007, the Little League Chairman’s Award recognizes an individual for their contribution and dedicated service to Little League Baseball and Softball.

Mr. Davis has become closely affiliated with the Little League program in recent years. First, through his involvement with the MLB Little League Classic, where in 2017, he became the first umpire to officiate a Little League Baseball^® World Series game and MLB World Series game in the same season. Later that year, he joined the Little League team as a member of the Little League Volunteer Umpire Advisory Committee where he continues to serve today.

During that time, Mr. Davis has also been a guest at a previous Little League International Congress, West Region Umpire School, and Little League Baseball World Series (LLBWS) umpire orientation events, and even provided a #LLPepTalk to umpires during the heart of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, Mr. Davis has been to Williamsport a handful of times outside of the LLBWS and has a great appreciation for what Little League means to the game of baseball and softball.

In October 2021, in a contest between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs, Mr. Davis made history by umpiring in his 5,000^th career game. While Mr. Davis announced his retirement from being a MLB umpire following that game, he intends to continue offering his expertise in support of Little League’s efforts in the areas of umpire recruitment, training, and education.

Former Little League Chairman’s Award Recipients 

• 2007 – Bud Vanderberg
• 2010 – John Chadwick
• 2014 – Bill Carter

To learn more about the Little League International Congress, visit LittleLeague.org/Congress.

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In the wake of the tragic events that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022, Little League^® International has announced Uvalde (Texas) Little League as the recipient of the 2022 Carl E. Stotz Little League^® Community Award.

“The unspeakable and tragic event that occurred less than a month ago is something that no community, parent, or child should ever have to face, and no words can express the sadness and horror that we have all felt over these past weeks,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “Often times in the wake of tragedy, Little League fields can become a place that bring back a sense of healing for a community and we hope the members of the league and the entire Uvalde community can find that comfort through the Uvalde Little League program. We have seen many of our local leagues and communities all around the world who have supported the Uvalde Little League program during this tragic time and are pleased to be able to present this award as a step forward as they begin to heal as a community.”

Of the 19 children and two adults that tragically lost their lives during the events on May 24, more than half of the children were confirmed to have been involved within the Uvalde Little League program, including six of whom were registered to play during the 2022 season.

Affiliated with Little League International since 1959, Uvalde Little League has provided a memorable Little League experience for children throughout the Uvalde community for more than six decades and has seen a number of teams compete through the Little League International Tournament during that time. Earlier this season, Uvalde Little League had agreed to host the district tournaments at their facilities, and while continuing to heal from the tragedy, have committed to continuing that pledge in an effort to bring a sense of hope, normalcy, and cheer during these most difficult of times.

Since the tragedy unfolded, countless local Little League programs and communities across the nation have stepped up to support the Uvalde community in a variety of different ways, with a number of those on display across the league’s Facebook page. As part of receiving the Carl E. Stotz Little League Community Award, Uvalde Little League will also receive a $5,000 grant from Little League International as they look to bounce back from these tragic events and provide the children, families, and volunteers a place they can heal together.

The 2022 Carl E. Stotz Little League Community Award was officially presented to Rachel Lathe, Texas District 21 Administrator, on behalf of the league as part of the Opening Convocation at the 28^th Little League International Congress in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Friday, June 10, 2022. The award will later be presented by Ms. Lathe to the league as part of the Texas District 21 Tournament later this month during the opening ceremonies of their event. Little League International is committed to continuing to work with the local volunteers in the coming months, as the Uvalde community comes together to heal in the wake of this tragedy.

ICYMI: Willa Suarez from Uvalde Little League announced yesterday’s selection of Drew Gilbert during the first round of the @MLBDraft. She was joined on stage by fellow Uvalde Little Leaguer Ryan Zamora. pic.twitter.com/Igk7SZntCH

— Houston Astros (@astros) July 18, 2022

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The 28^th Little League^® International Congress officially got underway with the Opening Convocation at the Community Arts Center in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on June 10, 2022. Upon entry to the event, attendees were greeted with a performance by a quartet from the Williamsport Area High School, exemplifying another tremendous display of artistic talent within the local Williamsport community.

Recognizing a Little League Community in Need

Prior to the start of the Opening Convocation, Little League International took a moment to recognize the members of the Uvalde, Texas, community who were impacted by the tragic events that occurred at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022. Of the 19 children and two adults that tragically lost their lives during the events on May 24, more than half of the children were confirmed to have been involved within the Uvalde Little League program, including six of whom were registered to play during the 2022 season. To honor the families, volunteers, and players affected by the tragedy, Little League International awarded Uvalde Little League with the 2022 Carl E. Stotz Little League Community Award, which was presented to Rachel Lathe, Texas District 21 Administrator, on behalf of the league and will share the award with them during the district tournament later this month. Learn more about Uvalde Little League and the Carl E. Stotz Little League Community Award.

A Look Back Through History

Following the award presentation, the Little League International Congress kicked things off with a look back into history in celebration of the 75^th Anniversary of the Little League Baseball^® World Series (LLBWS) in August. With the support of children actors from the Williamsport Community Theater League performing on stage, a welcome message from 1989 LLBWS alumnus Chris Drury, and a voiceover by longtime ESPN broadcaster Brent Musburger, attendees had a chance to experience the history of the Little League World Series from its initial conceptualization to the international spectacle it has become today. Following the performance, attendees were welcomed with a performance of the National Anthem of the United States of America by Williamsport native Michael Fisher (a recipient of the 2021 Carl E. Stotz Little League Baseball Scholarship), and the reading of the Little League pledge by the four youth performers from the Community Theatre League.

Recognizing the Chairman’s Award Winner

After welcoming dignitaries from throughout the Williamsport and Pennsylvania community, Little League International Board of Directors Chairman Hugh E. Tanner took to the stage to present the 2022 Little League Chairman’s Award to Gerry Davis, retired MLB umpire and dedicated supporter of the Little League program. Learn more about Mr. Davis’ connection to the Little League program and tremendous accomplishments in his career.

Celebrating 75 Years of the LLBWS

After reliving the past four years since the 27^th International Congress in New Orleans through a retrospective video, Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO, welcomed three graduates of the LLBWS to the stage to participate in a panel discussion about the impact the event has had on their lives, and what it means to celebrate the 75^th Anniversary this August in Williamsport. Joining Mr. Keener for the discussion was Jose “Pepe” Maiz (1957 LLBWS) of Monterrey, Mexico; Todd Frazier (1998 LLBWS) of Toms River, New Jersey; and Luke Ramirez (2009 LLBWS) of Chula Vista, California.

Official Welcome, Courtesy of A.D. STARR

Following the conclusion of the Opening Convocation at the Community Arts Center, Congress attendees were invited over to the Madigan Library at the Pennsylvania College of Technology for a Welcome Reception, presented by A.D. STARR, where the Diamond Anniversary exhibit created by the World of Little League^® Museum and Penn College was on display and District Administrators had a chance to connect with fellow volunteers from around the world.

To see the full Congress schedule, as well as stay up-to-date with all the latest news, information, and resources, Congress attendees are encouraged to download the Congress App by visiting LittleLeague.org/Congress.

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