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August 4, 2012 City leaders, World Series staff eager for the games to begin Tickets now on sale at Mansfield Stadium
Ticket prices have remained stable in the last few years. An adult series pass is $35, while a student series pass is $25. Series passes admit the holder to all 23 games. For those only able to spend a day at Mansfield Stadium, day passes will be available for $10. Brooker, the rest of the series staff, and city and tourism officials are eager for the 2011 series to begin, with opening ceremonies set for 7 p.m. on Aug. 11. The games begin the next day, with the annual match-up of the Canada champion against the Maine District 3 champion at noon to kick things off. Last month, the Latin America, Asia-Pacific, and Europe-Middle East-Africa regions crowned their champions. All three winners crowned so far will be making their first trip to Bangor: Juvenil de Guatemala L.L., Guatemala City, Guatemala, from Latin America; Bayside Westhaven L.L., Auckland, New Zealand, from Asia-Pacific; and Emilia L.L., Emilia, Italy, from EMEA. “The competition is fierce, but the camaraderie is even better,” said Brooker, the tournament director for the last 10 years. “We have kids who have maintained contact with us and with each other, and with our kids from the local teams, and with other countries and between other states. It’s a unique event where you come here to compete, but you leave here as friends. And that’s what we’re most happy about, really, when everybody leaves.” Bangor City Councilor Nelson Durgin echoed Brooker’s sentiments, adding that teams making their first trip to the Queen City will experience something they have never experienced before in the eight days they will spend here. “They’re going to get the greatest reception anybody could give them, right here in Bangor,” Durgin said. “So as a city councilor here in Bangor, Maine, that makes me especially proud that we have the kind of people that are willing to do this.” “You’re going to see kids from all over the world having the time of their life. That’s one of the reasons we do the tournament,” Brooker said. Durgin had a message for Mainers who may not otherwise be interested in seeing what the World Series for Little Leaguers ages 13 through 16 is about: “Don’t miss this opportunity to come and see this tournament.”
The later district tournament enabled local teams to have a longer regular season and to give the Maine District 3 winner a more realistic taste of tournament play, instead of having to wait three weeks to play another game. The championship game will be broadcast live on ESPNU beginning at 2 p.m., Aug. 18. |
In a departure from years past, in which the Maine District 3 champion was crowned three weeks before the start
of the series, the host district’s tournament to see who will represent the district begins late this year, with six
leagues vying for the privilege of being the host team. The tournament began today, with the championship
game slated for Aug. 8.