Little League World Series 2018: Weekend schedule highlighted by games, Phillies-Mets, Beach Boys concert, and more (2024)

BY JOHN BEAUGE | Special to PennLive

The Caribbean Region Champion Little League team from Guayama, Puerto Rico, rides in the Little League Grand Slam Parade in downtown Williamsport, Pa.,Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. The Little League World Series tournament gets underway, Thursday in South Williamsport, Pa.. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar).

The Little League World Series kicks off in South Williamsport on Thursday with four contests between the tournament's two famed fields.

ESPN is again televising every matchup. This year's tournament opens with the Asia-Pacific region champion battling the Caribbean region top qualifier at 1 p.m. Games start every two hours from there as things kick into high gear.

Sunday appears to be the biggest day with the most events, but there is fun to be had every day this weekend.

Here's a guide to the action.

First, what you can bring into the facility:

List courtesy of the Little League World Series:

The following list of items will bePERMITTEDon the premises:

• Backpacks
• Small Purses
• Pin Bags
• Strollers
• Sunscreen (no aerosol, in its original container)
• Carriages
• Umbrellas

• Small Bags
• Fanny Packs
• Diaper Bags
• Coolers (10"L x 13"W x 12"D)
• Certified Service Animals (must remain on a leash or in a harness)
• Wheelchairs
• Motorized Handicap vehicles (scooters/wheelchairs)

The following list of items will bePROHIBITEDon the premises:

• Alcohol or Illegal Drugs
• Large Coolers
• Pets (except certified service animals)
• Fireworks
• Skateboards/hover boards
• Bicycles
• Rollerblades
• Scooters
• Noisemakers (ex: vuvuzelas, thunder sticks, air horns, etc.)
• Tarps, Tents, or Canopies
• Flammable materials or combustible devices
• Beach Umbrellas (small umbrellas 42" or less will be permitted)
• Large Bags or Containers
• Solicitation
• Laser Pointers
• Hover Boards
• Drones
• Weapons of any kind/self-defense items
• Pocket Knives or Guns
• Containers with Liquid (glass, cans, plastic, and aerosol containers)
• Aerosol containers (sunscreen in its original container will be permitted but is subject to inspection; aerosol containers of sunscreen are not permitted)
• Selfie sticks
• Utility tools with blades
• Baseball bats/poles
• Plastic saucers/sleds
• Flag poles/sticks/staffs

Thursday, Aug. 16

The Midwest Region Champion Little League team from Des Moines, Iowa, rides in the Little League Grand Slam Parade in downtown Williamsport, Pa.,Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. They will participate in the Little League World Series tournament that gets underway, Thursday in South Williamsport, Pa.. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar).

1 p.m.: Caribbean vs. Asia-Pacific

3 p.m: Mid-Atlantic Region vs. Midwest Region

5 p.m.: Mexico vs. Australia

7 p.m.: New England vs. Southwest

Friday, Aug. 17

The Japan Region Champion Little League team from Kawaguchi, Japan rides in the Little League Grand Slam Parade in downtown Williamsport, Pa.,Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar).

2 p.m.: Europe-Africa vs. Japan

4 p.m.: Great Lakes vs. Northwest 6 p.m.

6 p.m.: Latin America vs. Canada

8 p.m.: Southeast vs. West

Tournament details

The event is a modified double-elimination tournament, which means teams must lose twice to be eliminated before the U.S. and International Championship games, which means that it doesn't matter who comes out of early-round play undefeated and who works their way back through the consolation bracket after losing one time, because both teams are put back on even footing for the semifinal. That differs from some youth baseball tournament formats in which the undefeated team must lose twice to not win the title.

Saturday, Aug. 18

The Canada Region Championship Little League team from Surrey, British Columbia, rides in the Little League Grand Slam Parade in downtown Williamsport, Pa.,Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar).

1 p.m.: International: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 3

3 p.m.: US: Loser of Game 2 vs. Loser of Game 4: TV: ABC

The West Region Champion Little League team from Honolulu, Hawaii, rides in the Little League Grand Slam Parade in downtown Williamsport, Pa.,Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar).

6 p.m.: International: Loser of Game 5 vs. Loser of Game 7.

8 p.m.: US: Loser of Game 6 vs. Loser of Game 8

Sunday, Aug. 19

Sunday will be a full day at the Little League World Series.

It starts at 9 a.m. with the first of four games followed by a Beach Boys concert and then the second MLB Little League Classic between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets.

In addition, the Toms River, N.J., team that won the 1998 world title is reuniting and will be recognized in Howard J. Lamade Stadium before the 2 p.m. game.

The major leaguers will interact with the Little Leaguers at the world series complex before going to Bowman Field in Williamsport for their game.

Mets third baseman Todd Frazier was a member of the Toms River team that was known as the "Beast of the East."

It defeated Kashima, Japan, 12-9, for the world title in a game in which 11 home runs were hit.

"I was a nervous wreck," manager Mike Gaynor said after the game about the sixth inning. The outcome was not sealed until Frazier struck out a Japanese batter to end the game.

Gaynor chose to be visitors so Toms River would have the first opportunity to score. Frazier made the manager's strategy look god when he led off the game by hitting a 1-1 pitcher over the left field wall.

Frazier came on in relief in the fifth and allowed one run to score to tie the game at 8.

A two run homer in the top of the sixth by Chris Cardone, his second in as many plate appearances, and a two-run single by Gabe Gardner made it 12-9 but Kashima was not done.

Frazier gave up a solo homerun to Masahiro Kuribayashi and another hit before retiring the side to preserve the win.

"It was a fun time," Frazier told Little League recently. "I had a blast. It was a time in my life I'll never forget.

Bill Castle, one of the team hosts or "uncles" for the 1998 team, said he looks forward to meeting the players again.

After being an "uncle" for 30 years it is difficult to remember individual players, he said.

The Beach Boys will perform a free concert from the embankment behind the Lamade Stadium outfield fence following the 2 p.m. as part of ESPN's coverage of the day's events.

The focus then will shift to historic Bowman Filed in Williamsport where the Mets and the Phillies will play beginning at 7 p.m.

World series players will be guests at the game for which no tickets are available to the public. An on-line lottery was held to distribute the few that were available.

LLWS game schedule:

9 a.m.: International: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 3

11 a.m.: US: Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 4

1 p.m.: International: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 7

2 p.m.: US: Winner of Game 6 vs. Winner of Game 8

More LLWS coverage

The Asia-Pacific Region Champion Little League team from Seoul, South Korea, rides in the Little League Grand Slam Parade in downtown Williamsport, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018. The Little League World Series tournament gets underway Thursday in South Williamsport, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar).

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