Despite blowout victories in both the United States and World Championship games, the 2026 Little League World Series produced exciting, entertaining games enjoyed by large crowds, accompanied by some snail-paced traffic flow to access the Little League complex.
The Pariba Little League from Willemstad, Curaçao proved to be the tournament’s best, winning the island’s second ever Little League championship, its’ first since 2004. In doing so, they dominated the 20-team tournament field, posting a 5-0 record, outscoring opponents 34-5 while allowing just two earned runs.
While the results of the 79th World Series are now part of history, the memories created for the estimated 70,000 players, coaches, and fans in attendance will last a lifetime.
Personally, over the years I’ve witnessed most of them as a fan, Little League’s Central Region Director, broadcaster, or journalist. Although many things have changed during that time the essence of Carl Stotz’s inspiration lives on. Each year new chapters are added to my LLB memories, and this year was no exception, beginning with an unexpected, and yet hard to believe feat occurring before the first pitch was thrown.
While the South Williamsport Junior High girls’ softball team practiced at the South Williamsport Park complex, the Japanese Little League team worked out on an adjacent field. During batting practice, Tensei Yazawa, the team’s 12-year-old pitcher/third baseman, launched a mammoth shot that had to be seen to be believed. The towering blast cleared the 200-foot fence, not stopping until it hit a fence in front of the nearby railroad tracks an estimated 350 feet away. It may seem a bit far-fetched, but it actually happened. Yazawa hit two of his team’s six home runs while batting .529 in the Series.
Many of the players during the Series wore different-colored shoes on each foot, so many, in fact, that the oddity became commonplace. The shoe spectacle brought back vivid memories of my first Series on the LLB staff. A team from Gary, Indiana, was representing the Central Region in 1971, becoming the first all-black team to play here. The U.S. Rubber Company was a Series sponsor and provided each player with a pair of U.S. Keds baseball shoes, which they were expected to wear during Series play, providing the sponsor TV exposure.
After Gary played their first game, it was noted by Little League officials that many players on the team did not wear the U.S. Keds shoes. I was summoned to find out why the shoes weren’t worn. Asking the team’s manager for an explanation, he informed me most of the players on his team had never owned a new pair of shoes. They chose not to wear them in the game because they didn’t want to get them dirty.
As the World Series has been expanded, the Regional geographic areas have seen changes. There are now twenty regions represented in South Williamsport, ten coming from the United States and ten International teams. To provide more opportunities for areas of the country to reach the Series, mathematically, states participating in the various United States regions are unbalanced. Regional tournaments vary in size, with four to eight teams competing. Over the years, California has far outdistanced all other states and has been a powerhouse in the Series, sending 51 teams to the Series and winning eight championships. However, the year was an anomaly for the Golden State as they lost their first two games of the Series for the first time since 1975.
Pennsylvania has the second most U.S. representation with 39 teams but has not won a Series crown since Levittown American Little League in 1960. On the International side Canada has been here 66 ties without a title but had a strong showing this year winning three games. Mexico has been here 37 times, winning three; Chinese Taipei 33 times, winning 20; Japan 35 times, winning 12.
‘Bucket list visits’ are always part of the Little League experience and conversations were held with several making the Series trip for the first time. Despite the travel and related costs, all were glowing in describing how wonderful their Little League journey had been.
Among the many ‘behind the scenes’ individuals giving their time and talents to enhance the World Series experience for all is a group of local men; most are only familiar with them by their voices. The World Series public address announcers include Gabe Sinicropi, (27 years) well-known for his work with the Williamsport Crosscutters; WILQ’s morning man Shawn Carey (26 years); and Rob Thomas the Crosscutters PA announcer for 26 years, who just concluded his 25th year at the Little League Series.
Of his dual roles, Thomas explained, “With the Cutters I have more to do each game, plus I’m a homer. At the Series, I have no rooting interest, but they are both great experiences which I truly enjoy.”
Much has been said and written about Karl Ravich’s TV work at the Series for the past 20 years, who was unceremoniously fired by ESPN just weeks before this year’s event. But I am proud to be part of the local iHeartRadio team that has been broadcasting Series games for decades. Led by Ken Sawyer (55 years) and Gary Chrisman (52 years), local fans have been updated on Series action professionally.
The station’s ‘Man in the Crowd,’ Tom Speicher, has complemented the game broadcasts since 1998 with informative interviews. Montoursville native and former professional player Tom O’Malley (12 years) and me (25 years) have chipped in with color commentary.
We hope those listening have enjoyed the broadcasts as much as we have enjoyed doing them!
