Four teams were eliminated from contention yesterday during the 39th annual Junior League Baseball World Series at Taylor’s Heritage Park. But eight teams remain in the hunt for the world championship – and all of them play today.
The World Series for 13- and 14-year-old baseball players from around the globe continues with four games today. It’s must-win for four of the teams, while others are trying to remain unbeaten.
Heritage Park is located at 12111 Pardee Road. Admission is just $5 per carload per day or $15 for the week. Both fees include parking.
The eight-day tournament continues through Sunday.
Wednesday’s game schedule:
11 a.m. Reynosa, Mexico (1-1) vs. Perth, Western Australia (1-1)
2 p.m. Berlin, Maryland (1-1) vs. Taylor, Michigan (1-1)
5 p.m. Guayama, Puerto Rico (2-0) vs. Taoyuan City, Chinese Taipei (2-0)
8 p.m. Fullerton, California (2-0) vs. Melbourne, Florida (2-0)
Thursday
4 p.m. Loser of California-Florida vs. Winner of Maryland-Michigan
7 p.m. Loser of Puerto Rico-Chinese Taipei vs. winner of Mexico-Australia
Crossover Consolation Games TBD
Friday
3 p.m. International Championship Game
6 p.m. USA Championship Game
Crossover Consolation Games, TBD
Saturday:
Home Run Derby, TBD
Crossover Consolation Games, TBD
Sunday:
Noon 39th annual World Championship Game: International Champion vs. USA Champion
The Junior League Baseball World Series is considered the “older brother” of the more famous Little League World Series that is played in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The tournament was founded in Taylor, Michigan, in 1981 by a group of Little League enthusiasts and volunteers – and has been played at Heritage Park ever since. Greg Bzura has remained director since its inception.
The JLWS is played in a “modified double-elimination format.” Teams continue to play until they have two losses. Once the tournament is down to four teams, the remaining international teams play one another; the remaining USA teams play one another. The winners of those games play for the world championship. One of the teams in contention is the Asia-Pacific champion from Chinese Taipei, which is seeking its seventh straight world title at the JLWS.
For the first time in JLWS history, all 21 games will be shown on the ESPN family of networks. Games will be streamed on ESPN+. The world championship game will be broadcast on ESPN2. Fans can sign up for ESPN+ through the ESPN App or at the website www.espnplus.com for $4.99 a month or $49.99 per year and can cancel at any time.
Tuesday’s Results:
Reynosa, Mexico 10, Medicine Hat, Canada 1
The Latin America champions from Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico defeated the Canadian national champs from Medicine Hat, 10-1, to stay alive in the Junior League Baseball World Series. Mexico outhit Canada 12-4 and got back-to-back home runs from Jorge Lambarria and Samuel Juarez. Lambarria, Cesar Monjares and Diego Ortiz had two hits apiece. Erick Vazquez and Ortiz combine on a four-hitter on the mound. Mexico improved to 1-1. Medicine Hat (0-2) – representing Canada for the first time in the JLWS – is out of contention.
Berlin, Maryland 19, Tulsa, Oklahoma 3
Maryland scored 14 runs in the third inning and rolled to a 19-3 win over Oklahoma in a must-win game of the Junior League Baseball World Series in Taylor, Michigan. The USA East all-stars from Berlin (1-1) saw Owen Knerr go 3-for-4 with a home run and five RBI. Teammate Roman Keith also homered and knocked in three runs. Ryan McLaughlin scored three runs and knocked in three more. Tulsa had six hits and finished 1-2. It was the first time a team from Oklahoma played in the JLWS.
Perth, Western Australia 6, Bologna, Italy 0
The Australian national champions scored four runs in the third and two in the fifth, while pitchers Jacob Santich and Joshua Davies combined on a four-hitter over the Europe-Africa region champions from the Emilia Romagna Little League. The heart of the order came through for Australia, as Santich, Brody Pickett and Aden Browne had two hits apiece. One of Browne’s hits was a home run. The win evened Australia’s record at 1-1. It was the second loss for Italy (0-2), which is now out of contention.
Taylor, Michigan 10, Johnston, Iowa 5
Taylor – the Michigan District 5 champion and Junior League World Series host team – defeated the USA Central regional champion from Johnston, Iowa. Taylor is made up of players from the Taylor Northwest, Northeast and North Central Little Leagues. Taylor scored in every inning but the second to build a 10-1 heading into the top of the seventh inning, when Iowa scored four times. Taylor’s Dalton Vance out-dueled three Iowa pitchers and earned the victory. Taylor improved to 1-1. Iowa finishes the tournament at 0-2.