2011 Little League World Series

Tournament changes

On June 16, 2011, Little League announced that it was modifying the double-elimination format that was first used in the previous year's tournament. The format of four pools consisting of four teams in each pool, a format that had been used since the tournament expanded to 16 teams in 2001, was eliminated. Instead, the eight teams from the United States were placed into one bracket, and the eight International teams into another bracket. The tournament remained double-elimination until the United States and International championship games, where it became single-elimination.

Little League International renewed deals with uniform suppliers Russell Athletic and New Era Caps. As part of the deal, regions had new color schemes this year.

Teams

Main article: 2011 Little League World Series qualification

• Republic of China, commonly known as Taiwan, due to complicated relations with People's Republic of China, is recognized by the name Chinese Taipei by majority of international organizations including Little League Baseball (LLB). For more information, please see Cross-Strait relations.
• Of the 16 teams, 11 made their first LLWS appearance. Most notable among these was the Keystone Little League, based less than 30 mi from Little League headquarters. The last LLWS to feature a team from the immediate Williamsport area was the edition. Keystone's game on August 19 against the North Oldham Little League set an attendance record for Howard J. Lamade Stadium, at 41,848. The record stood until it was broken during the event.
• The Big Sky Little League team from Billings was the first team from Montana to win a regional and advance to the Little League World Series. They compiled a 3–1 record at the tournament before falling to the eventual tournament champions from Huntington Beach, California. Montana was scheduled to play the team from Tijuana, Mexico in the third place game but it was canceled due to the threat of Hurricane Irene in the latter stages of the tournament.

Results

Main article: 2011 Little League World Series results

United States bracket

International bracket

Crossover games

Teams that lost their first two games played a crossover game against a team from the other side of the bracket that also lost its first two games. These games were labeled Game A and Game B. This provided teams who were already eliminated the opportunity to play a third game. |August 22 – Lamade Stadium|ARU Aruba|5|South Dakota South Dakota|0}} |August 23 – Lamade Stadium|NED Netherlands|7|Rhode Island Rhode Island|8}}

World Championship

|August 28 – Lamade Stadium|California California|2|JPN Japan|1}}

The consolation game between Montana and Mexico was cancelled due to the expected arrival of Hurricane Irene.

Middle East-Africa qualification

Kampala, Uganda defeated Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in the Middle East-Africa Region Final but the Ugandan team was denied visas by the State Department. Reportedly, the visas were denied because some players provided false information, specifically related to their ages. The runner-up, Saudi Arabia, was invited to the Little League World Series in their spot.

Champions path

The Ocean View Little League won 20 games and lost 1 game to reach the Little League World Series. Overall, their record was 25–2. Their two losses came against Rancho Mission Viejo LL (from California), and Billings Big Sky LL (from Montana).

Notable players

Major League Baseball

• Hagen Danner (Huntington Beach, California) - pitcher
• Yonny Hernández (Maracaibo, Venezuela) - infielder
• Nick Pratto (Huntington Beach, California) - infielder

National Football League

• Jake Fromm (Warner Robins, Georgia) - quarterback in the National Football League

References

References

1. Communications Division. (November 12, 2010). "Dates and Sites for 2011 Little League World Series Tournaments Announced". Littleleagueonline.org.
2. Communications Division. (June 16, 2011). "2011 Little League Baseball World Series Schedule Announced". Little League.
3. "Russell Athletic Renews Agreement with Little League Baseball and Softball".
4. "Little League Baseball and Softball Extends Partnership with New Era Cap".
5. (August 15, 2011). "Keystone Little League Earns Berth in Little League Baseball World Series as Mid-Atlantic Region Champion". Little League Baseball.
6. (August 20, 2011). "Central Pa. team shut down by Kentucky". [[The Philadelphia Inquirer]].
7. Communications Division. (August 26, 2011). "Little League Baseball World Series Championship Game Moved Up to Noon on Sunday". Little League.
8. Communications Division. (August 26, 2011). "Little League Baseball World Series Championship Game Moved Up to Noon on Sunday". Little League.
9. Communications Division. (July 22, 2011). "Visa Applications Denied for Little League Team from Uganda". Little League.
10. (July 30, 2011). "Uganda investigating age of youth baseball team denied US visas for Little League". [[The Washington Post]].
11. Zinser, Lynn. (July 29, 2011). "No Little League World Series for Ugandan Team". [[The New York Times]].
12. Communications Division. "Arabian-American Little League of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, to Receive Berth in Little League Baseball World Series". Little League.
13. "Southern California Divisional Tournament". Unpage.com.
14. "West Region Tournament". Unpage.com.