The Little League World Series is one of the most coveted tournaments in youth sports. This year, 20 teams from around the world are competing in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The tournament is being televised on ESPN and their family of networks. Check out the schedule below to follow the action from wherever you are!
ESPN
ESPN airs the Little League World Series every year in August. The telecast is a major financial boon to the nonprofit organization that sponsors more than 6,500 baseball and softball leagues worldwide.
The network has been broadcasting the games since 1963 and is the second-longest partnership between a television network and a sports event, trailing only the Masters on CBS. The series consists of 20 teams, each competing in three regional tournaments and then in the world series.
During the summer months, Little Leagues around the world host district, sectional and/or divisional tournaments for all-stars that are vying to advance to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to play in the Little League World Series. The rules vary slightly from region to region, but most use pool play, double elimination and/or a round-robin format.
As the Little League World Series approaches, ESPN’s production team sets up a variety of cameras in both Lamade Stadium and Volunteer Stadium, where the games are played. Besides the standard jibs, a Technocrane is used behind the left-field wall at Lamade and a helicopter provides aerial footage from above.
For live game coverage, the ESPN team includes play-by-play announcer Karl Ravech and analysts Todd Frazier, Tim Kurkjian, Jessica Mendoza, Eduardo Perez and Kyle Peterson. They are joined by reporters Julie Foudy and Sabastian Salazar.
In addition to the main TV show, ESPN also airs several regional tournament games, which are qualifiers for the LLWS. The network also shows a number of interviews during the series, including interviews with players, coaches and parents.
The tournaments are held in various cities across the country and include teams from both U.S. and international regions, with the top two teams qualifying for the LLWS. The winner of the championship will represent the United States.
How to Watch the Little League World Series on ESPN
The Little League Baseball and Softball World Series are the pinnacle of youth sports, with tens of millions of viewers tuning in each August to see the best of youth baseball and softball. The tournament is a highlight of the sports calendar and has been televised on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, and is available online on streaming services like FuboTV, Sling TV and DIRECTV Stream.
For those who prefer a digital viewing experience, ESPN has also launched a Little League app. The app is free to download and allows users to track their favorite teams, schedule games and follow their progress throughout the tournament.
In addition to the live telecasts, ESPN airs several pregame shows and special events that are broadcast during the week of the LLWS. These shows, anchored by Karl Ravech and Mike Monaco, feature analysis from the likes of Todd Frazier and Tim Kurkjian, as well as commentary from Little League legend Mo’ne Davis.