For the first time, the Little League World Series has been canceled. Little League International announced on Thursday that the event would be canceled because of the coronavirus. The first Little League World Series tournament was in 1947 and has been played every year since, until now.
However, the organization did not cancel the spring and summer leagues across the country. League president Stephen Keener said there was hope to continue to play the season in some states, depending on their local guidelines.
Kenner said that the guidelines would make it impossible for the tournament to happen.
“Let me tell the folks in all those communities and all the sites where we have regional qualifying tournaments how disappointed we are to have to do this, but it was inevitable,” Keener said. “It would be irresponsible and impossible to bring teams and thousands of people from all over the world into the community of Williamsport as well as those six other communities that have been such great friends and supporters of ours over the years.”
After May 11, they will take a look at local guidelines to check to see if seasons can resume. Kenner is encouraging districts to hold all-star tournaments, especially since the LLWS in canceled.
“We will be very amenable to (changing) eligibility requirements and be very flexible to allow as many kids the opportunity to play as possible for whatever can remain of the 2020 Little League season,” says Kenner.
Little League International has said they will credit chartered programs with $1.2 million for current balances and future seasons.
Also Canceled
The Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles were scheduled for the Little League Classic on Aug. 23, which is now also canceled.
“While the cancellation of the 2020 Little League World Series is extremely disappointing, the health and safety of all of the people involved must be the paramount consideration. We look forward to our return to Williamsport for the 2021 MLB Little League Classic,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
Much of the attention during this pandemic has been on professional athletes, but it is affecting people across the board. Many of these kids have worked hard to put themselves in position to compete. Because of the age requirements involved in this tournament, a lot of these kids will be ineligible next season.
Seven world series tournaments have been canceled by Little League International.
- Little League Baseball – South Williamsport, Pa.
- Little League Softball – Greenville, N.C.
- Intermediate (50/70) Baseball – Livermore, Calif.
- Junior League Baseball – Taylor, Mich.
- Junior League Softball – Kirkland, Wash.
- Senior League Baseball – Easley, S.C.
- Senior League Softball – Sussex County, Del.
“Delivering this news comes with a very heavy heart. We have never had to cancel our World Series tournaments, but, right now, as our world comes together, we must do everything we can to help stem the spread of this deadly virus,” said Hugh E. Tanner, Little League International Board of Directors Chairman.
