Little League Baseball and Softball is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States, that organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the United States and the rest of the world.
Professional baseball leagues, amateur-baseball organizations, sportswriting associations, and other groups confer awards on various baseball teams, players, managers, coaches, executives, broadcasters, writers, and other baseball-related people for excellence in achievement, sportsmanship, and community involvement.
Intermediate, Junior, and Senior League Baseball are youth baseball divisions of Little League Baseball that are considered more advanced and difficult than younger Little League divisions due to more advanced rules, including the ability to lead-off and steal as the pitcher breaks, along with longer base paths and greater pitching distance. Junior League also includes the use of bats with 2+5⁄8-inch (6.7 cm) barrels rather than the transitional 2+1⁄4-inch (5.7 cm) barrels of Little League. Junior League also allows the use of metal spikes in cleats in addition to the molded or plastic spikes used in Little League. The Big League level was a former division for even older teens until it was discontinued for both baseball and softball after the 2016 Big League World Series.
The Midwest Region is one of ten United States regions that currently send teams to the Little League World Series, the largest youth baseball competition in the world. The region's participation in the LLWS dates back to 1957, when it was known as the Central Region. However, when the LLWS was expanded in 2001 from eight teams to 16 teams, the Central Region was split into the Midwest and Great Lakes Regions. Starting in 2022, 8 teams will be represented at the Midwest regional with the addition of Wisconsin.
The 2008 NCAA Division I baseball season, play of college baseball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began on February 22, 2008. The season was the first to have a uniform start date for both southern and northern teams. The change from previous seasons, in which weather allowed southern teams to begin play weeks before northern teams, was an attempt to improve parity between warm-weather and cold-weather teams. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 2008 NCAA Division I baseball tournament and 2008 College World Series. The College World Series, which consisted of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA tournament, was held in its annual location of Omaha, Nebraska, at Rosenblatt Stadium. It concluded on June 25, 2008, with the final game of the best of three championship series. Fresno State defeated Georgia two games to one to claim their first championship. Fresno State was the first team seeded fourth in its regional tournament to win a national championship since the NCAA Tournament adopted the current 64-team format in 1999.
The Central Region was a region that competed in the Little League World Series between 1957 and 2000. It was inaugurated as the North Region in 1957, when the LLWS first gave out Series berths to regional winners. The region was renamed to Central in 1973, and in 2001 was split into the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. The region produced one world champion, in 1959, when Hamtramck, Michigan, defeated Auburn, California, 12–0, in the championship game.
The Little League Softball World Series is a softball tournament for girls aged 10 to 12 years old. It was first held in 1974 and is held every August at Stallings Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina, in the United States. Little League expanded the field of World Series participants to 12 in 2022, adding 2 regions in the United States. Before being held in Greenville, it was held outside of Portland, Oregon at Alpenrose Stadium.
The Big League World Series (BLWS) East Region was one of five United States regions that sent teams to the World Series. The Big League division was discontinued by Little League Baseball after the 2016 BLWS. The region's participation in the BLWS had dated back to 1968.
The Big League World Series (BLWS) Southeast and Southwest regions were two of five United States regions that sent teams to the Big League World Series. The region's participation in the BLWS dated back to 1968 when it was known as the South Region. The Big League division of Little League Baseball was discontinued after the 2016 World baseball Series.
The Big League World Series (BLWS) West Region was one of five United States regions that sent teams to the World Series. The Big League division of Little League Baseball was discontinued after the 2016 World Series. The region's participation in the BLWS had dated back to 1968.
The Big League World Series (BLWS) Asia–Pacific Region was one of five International regions that sent teams to the World Series. The Big League division was discontinued by Little League Baseball after the 2016 BLWS. The region's participation in the BLWS had dated back to 1968. It produced the most championships (18) of any region, all won by Taiwan.
The Big League World Series (BLWS) Canada Region was one of five International regions that sent teams to the World Series. The Big League division was discontinued by Little League Baseball after the 2016 BLWS. The region's participation in the BLWS had dated back to 1969.
The Big League World Series (BLWS) Europe–Africa Region was one of five International regions that sent teams to the World Series. Little League Baseball discontinued the Big League division in 2016. The region's participation in the BLWS had dated back to 1970.
The Big League World Series (BLWS) Latin America Region was one of four International regions that sent teams to the World Series. The region's participation in the BLWS had dated back to 1970. Little League Baseball and Softball terminated the Big League division after the 2016 World Series.
The Big League World Series (BLWS) Host team was one of six United States "regions" that sent teams to the World Series. The Big League division was discontinued by Little League Baseball after the 2016 BLWS.
The Junior League World Series Central Region is one of six United States regions that currently sends teams to the World Series in Taylor, Michigan. The region's participation in the JLWS dates back to 1981.
The 2000 Big League World Series took place from August 6–12 in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Fraser Valley, Canada defeated Jeffersonville, Indiana in the championship game. It was Canada's first Little League championship in any division.
The Intermediate League World Series Central Region is one of five United States regions that currently sends teams to the World Series in Livermore, California. The region's participation in the ILWS dates back to 2013.
The Senior League World Series Central Region is one of six United States regions that currently sends teams to the World Series in Easley, South Carolina. The region's participation in the SLWS dates back to 1962, when it was known as the North Region.
The 2016 Big League World Series was a youth baseball tournament that took place from July 26-August 2 in Easley, South Carolina, United States. Taoyuan, Taiwan defeated Maui, Hawaii in the championship game. It was the first BLWS title for Taiwan since 1996, and extended their overall record to 18.
United States 
Grand Rapids, Michigan 
Illinois (24)
