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.
What regions participate in the Little League Softball World Series?
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.
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.
Tee ball
Minor League
Little League (majors)
Junior Division
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.
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.
Seize the opportunity to manage the success of your players and game scheduling with Diamond Scheduler.
Our powerful scheduling software lets you streamline even the most complex and strenuous schedules.Try it out for free and see how it can help you create your new schedule in minutes!
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.
