Little League Softball World Series: Regions, Winners, FAQs

Little League Softball World Series: Regions, Winners, FAQs

The Little League Softball World Series is a sports tournament for girls aged 10 to 12. 

Since 1974, the tournament has been held every August, where teams worldwide compete for a championship. 

Up until 2021, the tournament was held at Alpenrose Stadium, just outside Portland, Oregon.

The tournament's new home is now in Greenville, North Carolina, at Stallings Stadium. 

The tournament format is similar to the Little League Baseball World Series, with teams from the United States and from across the globe representing their respective regions.

The tournament consists of 12 teams (2 regions were added in 2022) and uses a double elimination bracket until the semifinals and championship game.

This guide will break down the regions participating in the Little League Softball World Series, the 2022 Little League World Series, and the winners over the years.

More importantly, it will cover how the league has been expanding and how you can be a part of all the exciting and advantageous opportunities to come.

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What regions participate in the Little League Softball World Series?

Little League Softball

The following are the regions that participate in the Little League Softball World Series.

United States regions

1. Central Region

  • Illinois

  • Indiana

  • Iowa

  • Kansas

  • Kentucky

  • Michigan

  • Minnesota

  • Missouri

  • Nebraska

  • North Dakota

  • Ohio

  • South Dakota

  • Wisconsin

2. East Region (broken down into two separate regions)

a. Mid-Atlantic Region

  • Delaware

  • District of Columbia

  • Maryland

  • New Jersey

  • New York

  • Pennsylvania

b. New England Region

  • Connecticut

  • Maine

  • Massachusetts

  • New Hampshire

  • Rhode Island

  • Vermont

3. Southeast Region

  • Alabama

  • Florida

  • Georgia

  • North Carolina

  • South Carolina

  • Tennessee

  • Virginia

  • West Virginia

4. Southwest Region

  • Arkansas

  • Colorado

  • Louisiana

  • Mississippi

  • New Mexico

  • Oklahoma

  • Texas East

  • Texas West

5. West Region (broken down into two separate regions)

a. Northwest Region

  • Alaska

  • Idaho

  • Montana

  • Oregon

  • Washington

  • Wyoming

b. West Region

  • Arizona

  • Hawaii

  • Nevada

  • Northern California

  • Southern California

  • Utah

6. Hosting Region 

  • North Carolina

7. International Regions

  • Asia-Pacific Region

  • Canada Region

  • Europe and Africa Region

  • Latin America Region

The east and west regions in the United States were split in two in 2022, creating a larger, more competitive tournament.

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What are the field dimensions for Little League Softball?

Just like in Little League Baseball, the field dimensions for Little League Softball vary depending on the age division. 

There are 5 divisions listed below. 

  1. Tee ball

  2. Minor League

  3. Little League (majors)

  4. Junior Division

  5. Senior League

In Little League Baseball, the field is made up of a 60-foot diamond with a distance of 40 feet from the pitcher's mound to home base.

The 2022 Little League Softball World Series

The 2022 Little League World Series marked the second time the tournament would be held at Stallings Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina. 

The tournament took place from August 9th to August 15th. 

12  teams were split into 2 brackets, the Purple Bracket and the Orange Bracket. 

Below are the 12 teams that competed and their respective regions:

1. Asia-Pacific Region

Bacolod, Philippines Team: Negros Occidental LL

2. Host Region (North Carolina)

Winterville, North Carolina Team: Pitt County Girls Softball LL

3. Canada Region

St. Albert, Alberta Team: St Albert/YYC Softball LL

4. Latin America Region

Guayama, Puerto Rico Team: Guayama Softball LL

5. Central Region

Columbia, Missouri Team: Daniel Boone LL

6. Northwest Region

Issaquah, Washington Team: Issaquah LL

7. Europe-Africa Region

Bologna, Italy Team: Emilia Romagna LL

8. Southeast Region

Chesterfield, Virginia Team: Chesterfield LL

9. Mid-Atlantic Region

Delmar, Maryland Team: Delmar LL

10. Southwest Region

Hewitt, Texas Team: Midway LL

11. New England Region

Milford, Connecticut Team: Milford LL

12. West Region

La Verne, California Team: La Verne LL

Maryland and Texas would go on to dominate their semifinal matchups against the Philippines and Virginia to advance to the championship game, where the Texas team, Midway LL, won a competitive and hard-fought victory, 5-4 in the 7th inning.

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Little League Softball World Series winners over the years

‍The league has had several champions since its inception in 1974, all of which have been from the United States, with the exception of a team from Puerto Rico that won in 2001. 

Following is the full list of Little League World Series Winners:

  • 1974 Wellswood Little League – Tampa, Florida

  • 1975 National Little League – Medford, Oregon

  • 1976 Salinas Little League – Salinas, California

  • 1977 American Little League – Salinas, California

  • 1978 Shippensburg Little League – Shippensburg, Pennsylvania

  • 1979 North Providence West Little League- North Providence, Rhode Island

  • 1980 Glendale Little League – Glendale, California

  • 1981 Gresham Little League – Gresham, Oregon

  • 1982 76er Little League – Glendale, California

  • 1983 Greater Naples Little League- Naples, Florida

  • 1984 Albuquerque Little League – Albuquerque, New Mexico

  • 1985 National Little League – Brookfield, Illinois

  • 1986 Tampa Bay Little League – Tampa, Florida

  • 1987 Tampa Bay Little League – Tampa, Florida

  • 1988 Greater Naples Little League – Naples, Florida

  • 1989 Greater Naples Little League – Naples, Florida

  • 1990 Foothill Little League – Glendale, California

  • 1991 Greater Naples Little League – Naples, Florida

  • 1992 Midway Little League – Waco, Texas

  • 1993 Midway Little League – Waco, Texas

  • 1994 Midway Little League – Waco, Texas

  • 1995 Midway Little League – Waco, Texas

  • 1996 Countryside Little League – Clearwater, Florida

  • 1997 Midway Little League – Waco, Texas

  • 1998 Midway Little League – Waco, Texas

  • 1999 Midway Little League – Waco, Texas

  • 2000 Midway Little League – Waco, Texas

  • 2001 Maunabo Little League – Maunabo, Puerto Rico

  • 2002 Midway Little League – Waco, Texas

  • 2003 Midway Little League – Waco, Texas

  • 2004 Midway Little League – Waco, Texas

  • 2005 McLean Little League – McLean, Virginia

  • 2006 Mattawan Little League – Mattawan, Michigan

  • 2007 Morristown Am/Natl Little League – Morristown, Tennessee

  • 2008 Simpsonville Little League – Simpsonville, South Carolina

  • 2009 Warner Robins American Little League – Warner Robins, Georgia

  • 2010 Warner Robins American Little League – Warner Robins, Georgia

  • 2011 Sterling Little League – Sterling, Illinois

  • 2012 Eastdale Little League – Albuquerque, New Mexico

  • 2013 Sunnyside LL – Tucson, Arizona

  • 2014 Robbinsville (N.J.) Little League

  • 2015 Rowan LL – North Carolina

  • 2016 Greater Helotes LL – Texas

  • 2017 Lake Air LL – Waco, Texas

  • 2018 Wheelersburg LL – Wheelersburg, Ohio

  • 2019 Rowan LL – Salisbury, North Carolina

  • 2021 Green Country LL, Muskogee, Oklahoma

  • 2022 Midway LL – Hewitt, Texas

The 3 states with the most championships over the years are Texas with 14, Florida with 8, and California with 5.

Watch this video for all the best hits from the 2022 Little League Softball World Series!

When is the 2023 Little League Softball World Series?

‍The 2023 Little League Softball World Series will take place from August 6th to August 13th and will air on ESPN + and ESPN 2. 

Tickets can be purchased at sites like Ticket Center or StubHub.

How is the Little League expanding, and what does that mean for Little League Softball?

‍Little League Baseball is always seeking new ways to grow and strengthen its organization. 

Here are some of the ways Little League Baseball hopes to develop:

1. Technology

‍Little League hopes to improve the experience of players and supporters by utilizing sports technology

For example, the organization has launched a smartphone app that gives coaches, players, and parents access to schedules, scores, and other vital information.

2. Partnerships

‍In order to broaden its impact, Little League is attempting to create relationships with other organizations, such as its recent collaboration with Major League Baseball to promote youth baseball and softball.

3. New programs

‍In addition to classic baseball and softball, Little League is also aiming to add other sports to its lineup. 

For instance, it just launched a program for kids with impairments called the "Little League Challenger Division."

4. International growth

‍Little League wants to spread its influence worldwide to more nations and areas. 

Although the organization already has leagues in many nations, it’s always on the lookout to expand its global influence.

Frequently asked questions

How many innings are in the Little League Softball World Series games?

‍There are 7 innings in Little League Softball, with a total of 21 outings.

What is the age range in Little League Softball World Series?

‍Girls participating in the Little League World Series must be between the ages of 10 to 12 years old.

How long does a Little League Softball game last?

‍The length of games can vary, but usually, they will last about 1.5 hours to 2 hours.

Do Little League Softball players need to wear face protection?

‍It’s not required but acceptable for players to wear faceguards. The only player required to wear one is the catcher.

Conclusion

‍The Little League Softball World Series is a thrilling competition that brings together young athletes from all around the world to display their skills and sportsmanship on a large stage.

‍As league owners and managers, you get the satisfaction of knowing you’re setting up young athletes for success in their future endeavors and facilitating environments where they can learn through teamwork.

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Jeff Tipper is an avid sports fan who has a strong passion for basketball. A graduate of the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor's Degree in Operations Management, Jeff has experience in operations and claim processing and spends his free time writing articles and blogs focused on sports and various business topics.

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