South Williamsport, Pa. – Twelve-year-old Hunt Smith has a keen sense of Little League history.
U.S. teams have won the past two Little League World Series titles. The past two Georgia teams to advance to South Williamsport have come away with the World Series trophy, including Columbus last year and East Marietta in 1983.
Smith, a first baseman from Warner Robins, Ga., figures that’s a good omen.
“Every time Georgia has been here, they’ve won,” Smith said coolly, leaning against a golf cart as teammates took swings in a batting cage. “We hope to keep it going.”
The 10-day tournament starts today, with 16 teams vying for a chance to take the victory lap around Lamade Stadium reserved for the World Series champions.
A new pitch-count rule this year throws a curve into game strategy. The main change: A starter cannot throw more than 85 pitches an outing, replacing the six-inning limit. Little League officials said the rule will help reduce wear on pitchers’ arms.
Also new this year is a change in regional alignments, with the Japanese national tournament winner getting an automatic entry into the World Series. Previously, the national team had to win the Asia-Pacific region tourney to get to South Williamsport.
“It’s better by 120 percent,” Japanese manager Youichi Jubo said through an interpreter.
Japan and Venezuela figure to be two of the top international teams in the tournament, hoping to break the two-year U.S. hold on the title.
The United States hasn’t had a streak of three or more titles since 1959-1966, an eight-year stretch of American victories.
Some members of last year’s Columbus team visited with Warner Robins before they left Georgia. The key advice from the reigning champs was to “just have fun,” Smith said.
Team members also voice the usual “oohs” and “aahs” over the finely kept World Series fields.
“I can’t believe how big it is here,” said 13-year-old Jake McCann, an outfielder with Chandler, Ariz., as he gazed at Lamade Stadium from atop a hill.
McCann said he and his teammates miss home, though they don’t mind missing the first three weeks of school.
“No, not really,” he said with a smile. “A lot of us are very happy about that.”
