Davenport Northwest LL kicks off LLWS regional run Friday
By John Damon | Just The News Iowa
The road to the Little League World Series runs through Indiana this week, and one Iowa team is ready to make its mark. Davenport Northwest LL will take the field Friday afternoon in Whitestown, Indiana, as the Midwest Regional tournament gets underway.
Fifty one teams from across the country are battling for just 10 spots in the Little League World Series field. The Midwest Region alone features eight state champions, all fighting for a single ticket to South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Iowa's hopes rest on the shoulders of Davenport Northwest LL, a team that has already proven itself on the state level. Now they face the toughest competition of the season with a dream trip to the LLWS on the line.
When and where does Iowa play?
Davenport Northwest LL opens regional play on Friday, Aug. 7, at 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. CT) against North Dakota's Fargo LL. The game will be played at the Whitestown regional site in Indiana and streamed live on ESPN+.
The Midwest Region tournament runs from Aug. 7 through Aug. 14. All games are held at the same location in Whitestown.
How can Iowa fans watch the games?
Most regional games will stream on ESPN+, available through the ESPN app. Select games will air on ESPN or ESPN2 and can also be streamed on fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.
Iowa fans should circle Friday's opener and Saturday's potential matchup. If Davenport Northwest wins Friday, they play again Saturday at 1 p.m. ET (12 p.m. CT) against the winner of South Dakota vs. Nebraska.
What is the full Midwest Region schedule?
The Midwest Region uses a double elimination format. Here is the complete schedule with all times Eastern:
Friday, Aug. 7
- Game 1: South Dakota vs. Nebraska, 10 a.m. ET, ESPN+
- Game 2: Iowa vs. North Dakota, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- Game 3: Missouri vs. Minnesota, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- Game 4: Kansas vs. Wisconsin, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Saturday, Aug. 8
- Game 5: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Sunday, Aug. 9
- Game 7: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 10:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+
- Game 8: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Monday, Aug. 10
- Game 9: Game 6 loser vs. Game 7 winner, 10 a.m. ET, ESPN+
- Game 10: Game 5 loser vs. Game 8 winner, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Tuesday, Aug. 11
- Game 11: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 10 a.m. ET, ESPN+
Wednesday, Aug. 12
- Game 12: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 11 a.m. ET, ESPN, fubo
Thursday, Aug. 13
- Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN, fubo
Friday, Aug. 14
- Championship: Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN, fubo
What other regions are playing this week?
The 10 U.S. regionals are being held at five sites across the country. Here are the other regions and their locations:
- Great Lakes Region: Whitestown, Indiana
- Metro Region: Bristol, Connecticut
- Mid-Atlantic Region: Bristol, Connecticut
- Mountain Region: San Bernardino, California
- New England Region: Bristol, Connecticut
- Northwest Region: San Bernardino, California
- Southeast Region: Warner Robins, Georgia
- Southwest Region: Waco, Texas
- West Region: San Bernardino, California
When is the Little League World Series?
The Little League Baseball World Series runs from Aug. 19 to Aug. 30 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The tournament features two brackets: one for U.S. teams and one for international teams. The championship game is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 30.
Last year, the Asia-Pacific representative from Chinese Taipei defeated the Mountain Region champion from Summerlin, Nevada, in the championship game. Iowa fans hope this year's story ends differently with a Midwest champion bringing the trophy home.
Who are the international teams?
The international field includes teams from South Korea, Australia, the Dominican Republic, Curacao, Czechia, Japan, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Panama. The Canadian representative has not yet been determined.
For Iowa families looking for a summer road trip, South Williamsport is about a 12 hour drive from Des Moines. The LLWS offers a chance to see the best youth baseball in the world, and maybe even cheer on a home state team.
Davenport Northwest LL takes the field Friday. The dream starts now.