2021 Little League World Series

The 2021 Little League World Series was held from August 19 to August 29 at the Little League headquarters complex in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania as the 74th edition of the Little League World Series. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was limited to US-based teams only.[1] The most recent prior edition of the tournament contested without international teams had been 1975. Taylor North Little League of Taylor, Michigan, defeated West Side Little League of Hamilton, Ohio, in the championship by a 5–2 score. It was the first championship for a team from Michigan since 1959.[2]

2021 Little League World Series
Tournament details
DatesAugust 19–August 29
Teams16 (US-based only)
Final positions
ChampionsMichigan Taylor North Little League, Taylor, Michigan
Runner-upOhio West Side Little League, Hamilton, Ohio
← 2019
2022 →

On August 13, it was announced that tickets would not be distributed to the public due to concerns over the Delta variant, with spectators limited to invited friends and family of teams, and other high-level supporters.[3]

Teams

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The 16-team field consisted of the top two teams from eight regional tournaments, contested during July and August.[1]

Tournament bracket namesakes, Hank Aaron (top) and Tom Seaver
United States
Region Regional winner Regional runner-up
Great Lakes Region   Taylor, Michigan
Taylor North Little League
  Hamilton, Ohio
West Side Little League
Mid-Atlantic Region   Oaks, Pennsylvania
Upper Providence Little League
  Toms River, New Jersey
Toms River East Little League
Midwest Region   Hastings, Nebraska
Hastings Baseball Little League
  Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls Little League
New England Region   Hooksett, New Hampshire
North Manchester–Hooksett LL
  Manchester, Connecticut
Manchester Little League
Northwest Region   Sammamish, Washington
Eastlake Little League
  Lake Oswego, Oregon
Lake Oswego Little League
Southeast Region   Nolensville, Tennessee
Nolensville Little League
  Palm City, Florida
Martin County North Little League
Southwest Region   Lafayette, Louisiana
Lafayette Little League
  Abilene, Texas
Wylie Little League
West Region   Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu Little League
  Torrance, California
Torrance Little League

The eight teams appearing on a grey background were placed in the Tom Seaver championship bracket, while the other eight teams were placed in the Hank Aaron championship bracket.

Ella Bruning of the team from Abilene, Texas, became one of the few girls who have competed in the Little League World Series.[4]

Results

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The draw to determine the opening round pairings took place on June 18, 2021.[5]

Hank Aaron championship

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Upper round 1Upper round 2Upper finalFinal
August 19 – Game 1
  Hawaii9
August 22 – Game 14 (F/7)
  Connecticut1
  Hawaii11
August 19 – Game 3
  Nebraska3
  Nebraska5
August 25 – Game 24
  New Jersey2
  Hawaii2
August 20 – Game 6
  Michigan0
  Michigan8
August 23 – Game 15
  Florida0
  Michigan6
August 20 – Game 8
  Texas5
  Washington0August 28 – Hank Aaron championship
  Texas6  Hawaii1
  Michigan2
Lower round 1Lower round 2Lower round 3Lower final
August 24 – Game 17
August 21 – Game 10  Texas2August 26 – Game 25
  Connecticut4  New Jersey1August 25 – Game 22 (F/5)  Michigan15
  New Jersey11  Texas10  Texas6
August 23 – Game 20  Nebraska0
August 21 – Game 11  Nebraska3
  Florida0  Washington2
  Washington1

Tom Seaver championship

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Upper round 1Upper round 2Upper finalFinal
August 19 – Game 2 (F/8)
  Tennessee0
August 22 – Game 13
  Ohio1
  Ohio0
August 19 – Game 4
  California9
  New Hampshire2
August 25 – Game 23
  California10
  California0
August 20 – Game 5
  South Dakota1
  Pennsylvania2
August 23 – Game 16
  Oregon8
  Oregon0
August 20 – Game 7
  South Dakota3
  Louisiana0August 28 – Tom Seaver championship
  South Dakota2  South Dakota2
  Ohio5
Lower round 1Lower round 2Lower round 3Lower final
August 24 – Game 18
August 21 – Game 9  Oregon6August 26 – Game 26
  Tennessee1  New Hampshire14August 25 – Game 21  California2
  New Hampshire4  New Hampshire3  Ohio4
August 23 – Game 19  Ohio4
August 21 – Game 12  Ohio8
  Pennsylvania3  Louisiana2
  Louisiana5

Consolation game

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Consolation Game[6]
 
  
 
August 29 – Lamade Stadium
 
 
  South Dakota0
 
 
  Hawaii5
 

World Championship

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The championship game was a rematch of the Great Lakes regional final during the qualification stage, which was won by Michigan, 9–1.[7][8]

 
World Championship[9]
 
  
 
August 29 – Lamade Stadium
 
 
  Ohio2
 
 
  Michigan5
 
2021 Little League World Series Champions
 
Taylor North Little League
Taylor, Michigan

Champions path

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The Taylor North LL reached the LLWS with an undefeated record in seven games.[10] In total, their record was 16–1, with their only loss coming to Hawaii in the third round of double-elimination play in South Williamsport.[11]

Round Opposition Result
Michigan State Tournament
Quarterfinal Round Western LL 9–1
Semifinal Round Bay City Southwest LL 4–2
Championship Game Roosevelt Park LL 9–2
Great Lakes Regional Tournament
Winner's Bracket Opening Round   Elmbrook National LL 10–0 (F/5)
Winner's Bracket Semifinal   Brownsburg LL 9–1
Semifinal   Hinsdale LL 10–0 (F/5)
Finals   West Side LL 9–1

2021 MLB Little League Classic

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The MLB Little League Classic game at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in nearby Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was played on August 22 between the Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Angels.[12] Cleveland won the game, 3–0.[13] The fourth edition of the Classic to be played, it became the first edition contested between American League teams, after the 2020 game scheduled between the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b "2021 Little League® World Series and Regional Tournament update". littleleague.org. May 3, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  2. ^ Randhawa, Manny (August 29, 2021). "Michigan defeats Ohio for 1st LLWS since '59". MLB.com. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  3. ^ Chappell, Bill (August 13, 2021). "Little League Says The General Public Can't Attend Its World Series". NPR. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  4. ^ Adams, Emily (August 20, 2021). "Ella Bruning makes history in Texas' win vs. Washington in Little League Baseball World Series". USA Today. Retrieved August 20, 2021 – via MSN.com.
  5. ^ "2021 Little League World Series Pairings and Updates". littleleague.org. Little League International. June 18, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  6. ^ Wheaton, Evan (August 29, 2021). "Hawaii wins consolation game at LLWS over South Dakota". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "Recap: Michigan defeats Ohio 9-1". littleleague.org. August 14, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  8. ^ "World Series, here we come! Michigan champ spins heads with Little League regional crown". mlive.com. August 14, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  9. ^ Green, Marsha (August 29, 2021). "Taylor North wins Little League World Series Title". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 29, 2021 – via MSN.com.
  10. ^ "Michigan State Tournament Results". Unpage.com. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  11. ^ Crossley, Brett (August 25, 2021). "Hawaii defeats Michigan 2-0 on Day 7 of Little League World Series in Williamsport". northcentralpa.com. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  12. ^ Footer, Alyson (August 23, 2020). "Tribe, Angels to play '21 Little League Classic". MLB.com. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  13. ^ "Angels 0, Indians 3 (Final Score)". MLB.com. August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  14. ^ Adler, David (April 30, 2020). "2020 LLWS, MLB Little League Classic canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
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