By The Lake Mary Little League All Stars team defeated Tennessee in the Southeast Region to become one of 10 American teams playing in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. They’ll compete to make it to the quarterfinals, which (unlike the MLB World Series) is actually worldwide with 20 of the best teams from around the globe.
That makes Lake Mary the fourth Central Florida team to make the quarterfinals in the LLWS (a GoFundMe has been set up to cover costs for parents to go). But how many Florida teams have gotten that far? Has anyone from Florida won?
How many Florida teams have played in the Little League World Series?
Not counting this year, a Florida team has competed in 23 Little League World Series tournaments since it began in 1947. The state’s last appearance was in 2021 when Palm City lost to Taylor, Michigan in Game 1.
Has any Florida team ever won the Little League World Series?
No.
But we’ve been the runner-up eight times. That’s more than any other state besides California (16), so we’re due. California has also won eight times, but we’re not talking about them right now.
- 1948: The St. Petersburg All Stars lost to the Lock Haven All Stars from Pennsylvania, 6-5.
- 1949: The very next year, the Pensacola All-Stars got to the end only to be trounced 5-0 by the Hammonton All-Stars from New Jersey.
- 1975: The Belmont Heights Little League of Tampa lost in a tight game (4-3) to the Lakewood Little League from New Jersey, but allegations of cheating caused the Series to ban non-U.S> teams and only three games were played.
- 1980: Tampa made it again, but lost 4-3 to the Longkuang Little League of Hualien, Taiwan.
- 1981: In Tampa’s third LLWS appearance, they were defeated by the Taiping Little League of Taichung, Taiwan 4-2.
- 1984: This year was the National Little League of Altamonte Springs’ turn, but they lost the championship to Seoul, South Korea 6-2.
- 2001: Apopka fought past everyone else only to lose 2-1 to the Kitasuna Little League of Tokyo, Japan.
- 2003: The Musashi-Fuchu Little League of Tokyo, Japan, defeated the East Boynton Beach Little League 10-1.
When will Florida’s team compete in the Little League World Series?
Lake Mary will be facing Midwest’s Sioux Falls Little League in Game 4 on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. EST.
If they win, they move on to play against the Northwest’s South Hill Little League in Game 12 on Friday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m. EST. If they lose, they will play against the loser of Game 6 on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 3 p.m. EST.
What channel and how to watch, stream the 2024 Little League World Series
The games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ABC), or you can stream the games on ESPN+ and on the ESPN App.
Contributing: Sherlon Christie, USA TODAY
