The 2019 Little League World Series continues with the second set of opening games on Friday, August 15. Play from the United States and International brackets continues over the weekend with the losing teams from the first games playing on Saturday and the winners colliding on Sunday.
Chofu Little League in Chofu City won the Japan Region and is the odds on favorite to win the 2019 LLWS. Chofu opens play on Friday against Europe-Africa Region winner Emilia Romagna LL from Bologna, Italy. The West Region winner in the U.S. bracket has performed well in the past at the LLWS winning four of the last five American titles. Honolulu claimed victory last year and another Hawaiian team is the likely favorite to represent the U.S. again in the championship game. The youngsters from Wailuku survived the difficult West Region and look to become the first state with back-to-back wins since Georgia in 2006 and 2007.
Little League World Series Odds at BookMaker.eu
International Team wins LLWS -180
U.S. Team wins LLWS +140
Friday’s action from South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, gets underway at 2 p.m. ET with games scheduled every two hours. All four games will be shown on ESPN with betting options available at top online sportsbooks.
2019 Little League World Series Schedule – Friday, August 16
Chofu City (Japan) vs. Italy (Europe-Africa), 2 p.m. ET (ESPN)
We’ve seen some impressive play in the regionals but none better than Chofu, which breezed through the Japan Region winning all four games by a combined score of 37-1. The Japanese have been such a threat in the LLWS that the country earned an automatic entry in 2007. Chofu is the 30th team from Japan to qualify for the tournament and looks to win the country’s 12th title. Teams from Tokyo dominated the LLWS recently with five championships from 2010 to 2017.
Italy shouldn’t pose too much of a threat in this game, but don’t underestimate the boys from Bologna, who beat teams from the Netherlands twice, Austria and Spain en route to the Europe-Africa Region prize. Emilia Romagna LL has become a fixture in South Williamsport representing the region for the fourth time since 2008. The Italians went 4-0 in regional play outscoring teams 27-7, including a 1-0 victory in the regional final.
Louisiana (Southwest) vs. Hawai’i (West), 4 p.m. ET (ESPN)
The West Region has been a consistent threat in the LLWS. Honolulu won the third title for Hawai’i last year and has helped the region to 10 championships overall. Teams from California, Hawai’i and Arizona have also finished as runner-up 19 times. You’d think 12-year-olds in Hawai’i would be hanging out at the beach rather than playing baseball, but mahalo to the kids from Central East Maui LL as they try and make it two in a row for Hawai’i.
Eastbank LL from River Ridge, Louisiana edged Texas, 6-2, to complete a perfect Southwest Regional. Eastbank is a dynasty back home winning five consecutive state titles. They’ll give it a shot on a bigger stage as the first team from the New Orleans area to reach the LLWS.
Nuevo Leon (Mexico) vs. British Columbia (Canada), 6 p.m. ET (ESPN)
North and south will gather in the middle when Mexico Region champ Nuevo Leon takes on Canada Region champ British Columbia. Coquitlam LL needed eight games to take the Great White North, beating Quebec, 6-3, in the final. They avenged their only tournament loss and played some wild games with a 62-33 combined score.
If pitching wins championships, Epitacio Torres LL from Guadalupe has a good chance. The Mexican Region winners allowed just 14 runs in their six wins and escaped the 13-team regional behind four pitchers who have been clocked over 70 mph.
New Jersey (Mid-Atlantic) vs. Oregon (Northwest), 8 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Elmora Youth LL rapped out 20 hits to beat New York, 17-4, for the Mid-Atlantic Region prize. The boys from Elizabeth, N.J. combined strong pitching and solid bats to finish the regional 6-1. They outscored the other teams 31-5 in their victories with half of them by shutout. New Jersey was a favorite to win the region and could be a tough out at the LLWS.
A number of teams at the LLWS breezed through their regional without much resistance. That wasn’t the case for Northwest winner Oregon, which secured a pair of one-run victories on its way to clean sweep. The boys from Sprague LL in Salem eked out an 8-7 win over Montana and beat Idaho, 5-4, in the final. Can they continue the magic in PA?
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