Little League playdowns begin

First step toward Little League glory

It’s called the World Series but, of course, it only involves North American-based MLB teams.

It’s the Little League World Series that really puts the “World” in Series every summer, with up to 40,000 fans attending games in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. There is no brand that comes even remotely close to it in youth sport, not even in soccer, basketball, hockey or cricket.

The annual road to Williamsport begins anew this weekend in Little League parks from Toronto to Tokyo and Calgary to Caracas.

The District 7 playdowns begin today for the Central Saanich Little League. Layritz plays Beacon Hill at 11 a.m., followed by Hampton against National at 3 p.m. and Lakehill meeting Central Saanich at 6 p.m. The opening ceremonies are at 1 p.m.

Round-robin games will continue every day at Central Saanich from Sunday through Friday at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. The semifinals will go next Saturday with No. 1 playing No. 4 at 2 p.m. and No. 2 against No. 3 at 11 a.m. The final will be held Sunday, July 15, at 11 a.m.

The District 7 winner will advance to the B.C. championships July 21-29 in Trail, a town that needs no introduction when it comes to Little League success over the decades.

The B.C. champion advances to the Canadian Little League championships Aug. 2-11 in Mirabel, Quebec, with the winner from that representing the nation at the 2018 Little League World Series Aug. 16-26 in Williamsport.

There’s a good chance of seeing the B.C. champion advance to Williamsport. Teams from B.C. have represented Canada in the Little League World Series 26 times.

Among that total are Esquimalt-Vic West in 1974 and Gordon Head in 1999. The Gordon Head team included former Major League Baseball outfielder Michael Saunders.

B.C. teams have won the Canadian championship every year since 2005 except for 2013, when East Nepean from Ottawa was the national champion.

No Canadian team has won the Little League World Series.

Layritz will host the 2020 Canadian Little League championships.