| Starting Point |
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| Written by Troy Chuinard | |
| Monday, 17 December 2007 | |
Major League Superstars are among the elite. There is a reason that the final showdown is referred to as the "World Series," and that reason is the fact that major league athletes are considered some of the most talented competitors in the whole world. However, the fundamentals of hard work, training, and dedication that are required do not come easy.
Have you ever wondered where these athletes began? Almost all of them started as young t-ballers, but few had the opportunity to participate in the Little League World Series. This annual event originated in 1947 and hosts teams from all over the world. The best 11, 12, and 13 year old clubs compete to crown one champion. The series takes place in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, usually sometime in August. The quest to the Little League World Series is no doubt challenging, as teams begin participating in qualifying tournaments during mid-summer. There are district, sectional, regional, and state tournaments all leading up to the World Series, and most of the brackets are double elimination. The amount of teams competing from each American state does vary, which is why it may be easier for some state clubs to reach the later tournaments. Separate countries establish their own system of selecting a deserving team to participate in the World Series qualifiers. In the actual Little League World Series, only 16 teams remain - 8 from the United States and 8 from other countries. There are two 8-team brackets: a U.S bracket and an International bracket. The top two teams from each bracket advance to the semifinals, and then those winners compete in the championship game. Howard J. Lamade Stadium and Little League Volunteer Stadium currently host the tournament. The games used to be played at Original Little League until 1959. Howard J. Lamade Stadium has hosted games since then, while Little League Volunteer Stadium opened in 2001. Both of the fields that are used today have very similar dimensions to ensure fairness for each participant. The fences at each stadium throughout the whole outfield are approximately 225 feet from the tip of home plate. The team from Williamsport, Pennsylvania was the first Little League World Series Champion to be crowned (1947). In this past year's tournament, Warner Robins, GA defeated Tokyo, Japan. Several participants in the Little League World Series have gone on to pursue careers as athletes. Current Pittsburgh Pirate Jason Bay played in 1990 event for British Columbia. Dwight Gooden also had the experience, not to mention that he was crowned with a MLB World Series Championship in 1986 as well. Gary Sheffield, Jason Marquis, and Jason Varitek are yet a few more famous figures who had the opportunity as youngsters to compete in the Little League World Series.
Evidently, the Little League World Series serves as a starting point for several young athletes. With its growing popularity, it will be interesting to see what current participants pan out to become professional superstars in the future.
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