Ok, you can debate the value of televising the Little League World Series, but if it didn’t do well in the ratings, television would not be interested and it certainly does well every year. So ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will be all over this event once again. Here’s the press release and schedule of games.
ABC, ESPN & ESPN2 Combine to Deliver Every Little League World Series Game from WilliamsportU.S., International and World Series Championships on ABCABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to present every game (up to 34) of the Little League World Series from Williamsport, Pa., Aug. 20-29. ABC – entering the network’s 48th consecutive year of Little League World Series coverage – will broadcast the International Championship on Saturday, Aug. 28, at 1 p.m., the United States Championship on Aug. 28 at 4 p.m., and the Little League World Series Championship on Sunday, Aug. 29, at 3 p.m. Every World Series game on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will be available in high definition for the sixth straight year. All ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts will be simulcast via ESPN3.com, with nearly all games available on ESPN Mobile TV.For the first time, this year’s Little League World Series will feature a double-elimination format. The Little League World Series from Williamsport will begin with regional winners competing in the double-elimination round Friday, Aug. 20, including: New England (Fairfield, Conn.) vs. Northwest (Auburn, Wash.) at 1 p.m. on ESPN; Midwest (Plymouth, Minn.) vs. Southwest (Pearland, Texas) at 3 p.m. on ESPN; Caribbean (Puerto Rico) vs. Europe (Germany) at 6 p.m. on ESPN2; and Japan (Tokyo) vs. Mexico (Tamaulipas) at 8 p.m. on ESPN2. ABC will broadcast two games from the opening weekend: Southeast (Columbus, Ga.) vs. West (Waipahu, Hawaii) Saturday, Aug. 21, at 3 p.m., and an elimination game between either Mid-Atlantic (Toms River, NJ)/Great Lakes (Hamilton, Ohio) vs. Southeast/West Sunday, Aug. 22, at 2 p.m.Action will continue daily (excluding Friday, Aug. 27) through the Little League World Series consolation game Sunday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. on ESPN and Little League World Series Championship.ESPN game commentators:Double Elimination Round – Aug. 20-26
- Gary Thorne and Orel Hershiser
- Karl Ravech and Bobby Valentine
- Jon Sciambi and Nomar Garciaparra
- Kyle Peterson and Adriana Monsalve will serve as roving reporters
Fun Fact: Hershiser and Garciaparra will achieve the broadcasting triple crown this season, contributing as game analysts to ESPN’s Major League Baseball, College World Series and Little League World Series coverage.Single Elimination Round – Aug. 28-29
- Brent Musburger and analyst Hershiser will call the U.S., International and World Series Championships on ABC. Ravech, who will host ABC’s weekend coverage throughout the tournament, will call the third-place consolation game with Valentine.
ESPN will also televise a Little League World Series Web Gems/World Series Preview, recapping the best defensive plays throughout the tournament and previewing the championship, Sunday, Aug. 29, at 1 p.m.ESPN maintains a Little League World Series Facebook page, which provides news and information, videos, game previews and trivia, among other content, to its more than 40,000 fans.2010 Little League World Series ScheduleAll ESPN telecasts simulcast on ESPN3.com (*denotes elimination game)Pool A – Mid-Atlantic (Toms River, NJ), West (Waipahu, Hawaii), Southeast (Columbus, Ga.) and Great Lakes (Hamilton, Ohio); Pool B – New England (Fairfield, Conn.), Midwest (Plymouth, Minn.), Southwest (Pearland, Texas) and Northwest (Auburn, Wash.); Pool C – Caribbean (Puerto Rico), Japan (Tokyo), Mexico (Tamaulipas) and Europe (Germany); and Pool D – Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia), Latin America (Panama), Canada (British Columbia) and Asia-Pacific (Taiwan).
The schedule comes up after the jump.
| Double Elimination Round | ||||||||
| Date | Time (ET) | Game | Field | Network | ||||
| Fri, Aug 20 | 1 p.m. | #1: New England vs. Northwest | Volunteer | ESPN | ||||
| 3 p.m. | #2: Midwest vs. Southwest | Lamade | ESPN | |||||
| 6 p.m. | #3: Caribbean vs. Europe | Volunteer | ESPN2 | |||||
| 8 p.m. | #4: Japan vs. Mexico | Lamade | ESPN2 | |||||
| Sat, Aug 21 | 11 a.m. | #5: Mid-Atlantic vs. Great Lakes | Lamade | ESPN | ||||
| 1 p.m. | #6: Latin America vs. Canada | Volunteer | ESPN | |||||
| 3 p.m. | #7: Southeast vs. West | Lamade | ABC | |||||
| 6 p.m. | #8: Asia-Pacific vs. Middle East & Africa | Volunteer | ESPN | |||||
| 8 p.m. | #9: *New England/Northwest loser vs. Midwest/Southwest loser | Lamade | ESPN | |||||
| Sun, Aug 22 | 12 p.m. | #10: *Caribbean/Europe loser vs. Japan/Mexico loser | Volunteer | ESPN | ||||
| 2 p.m. | #11: *Mid-Atlantic/Great Lakes loser vs. Southeast/West loser | Lamade | ABC | |||||
| 3 p.m. | #12: *Latin America/Canada loser vs. Asia-Pacific/Middle East & Africa loser | Volunteer | ESPN | |||||
| 6 p.m. | #13: Winner’s Bracket Final: Caribbean/Europe winner vs. Japan/Mexico winner | Volunteer | ESPN2 | |||||
| 8 p.m. | #14: Winner’s Bracket Final: New England/Northwest winner vs. Midwest/Southwest winner | Lamade | ESPN2 | |||||
| Mon, Aug 23 | 12 p.m. | Consolation Game: Game #9 loser vs. Game #10 loser | Lamade | ESPN2 | ||||
| 2 p.m. | #15: Winner’s Bracket Final: Latin America/Canada winner vs. Asia-Pacific/Middle East & Africa winner | Volunteer | ESPN | |||||
| 4 p.m. | #16: *Game #13 loser vs. Game #10 winner | Lamade | ESPN | |||||
| 6 p.m. | #17: Winner’s Bracket Final: Mid-Atlantic/Great Lakes winner vs. Southeast/West winner | Volunteer | ESPN2 | |||||
| 8 p.m. | #18: *Game #14 loser vs. Game #9 winner | Lamade | ESPN2 | |||||
| Tue, Aug 24 | 12 p.m. | Consolation Game | Lamade | ESPN2 | ||||
| 2 p.m. | #19: *Game #15 loser vs. Game #12 winner | Volunteer | ESPN2 | |||||
| 4 p.m. | #20: *Game #17 loser vs. Game #11 winner | Lamade | ESPN | |||||
| 6 p.m. | #21: *Game #13 winner vs. Game #16 winner | Volunteer | ESPN2 | |||||
| 8 p.m. | #22: *Game #14 winner vs. Game #18 winner | Lamade | ESPN2 | |||||
| Wed, Aug 25 | 2 p.m. | Pool C Final (if nec.) | Volunteer | ESPN | ||||
| 4 p.m. | Pool B Final (if nec.) | Lamade | ESPN | |||||
| 6 p.m. | *Game #15 winner vs. Game #19 winner | Volunteer | ESPN | |||||
| 8 p.m. | *Game #17 winner vs. Game #20 winner | Lamade | ESPN | |||||
| Note: if two games are required on Wednesday, Aug. 25, the start times will be 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; if three games are played, they will be televised at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. | ||||||||
| Thu, Aug 26 | 4 p.m. | Pool D Final (if nec.) | Lamade | ESPN | ||||
| 7 p.m. | Pool A Final (if nec.) | Lamade | ESPN2 | |||||
| Note: if one game is required, it will be televised at 7 p.m. | ||||||||
| Single Elimination | ||||||||
| Sat, Aug 28 | 1 p.m. | International Championship | Lamade | ABC | ||||
| 4 p.m. | U.S. Championship | Lamade | ABC | |||||
| Sun, Aug 29 | 11 a.m. | Consolation Game (third place) | Lamade | ESPN | ||||
| 1 p.m. | Little League Web Gems Special and Championship Preview | ESPN | ||||||
| 3 p.m. | Little League World Series Championship | Lamade | ABC | |||||
That is it for this release.
