For Immediate Release
ESPN PR
August 12, 2008
860-766-2000

ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 Combine to Deliver Every
Little League World Series Game from Williamsport

U.S., International and World Series Championships on ABC
All Games in High Definition; ESPN Telecasts Simulcast on ESPN360.com

ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will combine to present all 32 games of the Little League World Series Presented by Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes from Williamsport, Pa., Aug. 15-24.  ABC – entering the network’s 46th consecutive year of Little League World Series coverage – will broadcast the International Championship Saturday, Aug. 23, at 12:30 p.m. ET, the United States Championship Saturday, Aug. 23, at 3 p.m., and the Little League World Series Championship Sunday, Aug. 24, at 3:30 p.m.  Every Little League World Series game on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 will be available in high definition for the fourth consecutive year.  All ESPN and ESPN2 telecasts will be simulcast on ESPN360.com.

Little League World Series coverage from Williamsport will begin Friday, Aug. 15, with regional winners competing in the pool-play round, including: Midwest (Rapid City, S.D.) vs. Southeast (Tampa, Fla.) at 2 p.m. on ESPN; Canada vs. Latin America at 4 p.m. on ESPN2; New England (Shelton, Conn.) vs. West (Waipahu, Hawaii) at 6 p.m. on ESPN2; and Mid-Atlantic (Hagerstown, Md.) vs. Great Lakes (Jeffersonville, Ind.) at 8 p.m. on ESPN.  ABC’s coverage will include two broadcasts from the opening weekend – Midwest (Rapid City, South Dakota) vs. New England (Shelton, Conn.) Saturday, Aug. 16, at 3 p.m. and Great Lakes (Jeffersonville, Ind.) vs. Southwest (Lake Charles, La.) Sunday, Aug. 17, at 3:30 p.m.

Coverage will continue daily (excluding an open date on Friday, Aug. 22) through the Little League World Series consolation game Sunday, Aug. 24, at 12 p.m. on ESPN and Little League World Series Championship.

ESPN game commentators:

Pool Play – Aug. 15-19

  • Gary Thorne and analyst Orel Hershiser for games held at Lamade Stadium;
  • Karl Ravech and analyst Orestes Destrade for games held at Volunteer Stadium;
  • Stacey Dales and Pedro Gomez will share reporting responsibilities.

 

Semifinals – Wednesday, Aug. 20 & Thursday, Aug. 21

  • Brent Musburger, Hershiser and Dales will provide commentary for both U.S. Semifinals (Wednesday, Aug. 20, and Thursday, Aug. 21, at 8 p.m. on ESPN);
  • Thorne, Destrade (who is fluent in three languages – English, Spanish and Japanese) and reporter Pedro Gomez will provide commentary for both International semifinals (Wednesday, Aug. 20, and Thursday, Aug. 21, at 4 p.m. on ESPN).

 

International and United States Championships – Saturday, Aug. 23

  • Musburger, analysts Hershiser and Destrade, and reporters Dales and Gomez will call the International Championship Saturday, Aug. 23, at 12:30 p.m. on ABC;
  • Musburger will call the United States Championship with Hershiser and Dales Saturday, Aug. 23, at 3 p.m. on ABC.

 

World Series Championship and Consolation Game – Sunday, Aug. 24

  • Ravech, Destrade and Gomez will call the consolation game Sunday, Aug. 24, at 12 p.m. on ESPN;
  • Musburger will provide play-by-play for the Little League World Series Championship with Hershiser, Dales and Gomez Sunday, Aug. 24, at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.

 

ESPN will have an on-site set in Williamsport throughout the Little League World Series, serving as a host position in providing content for studio programming.  Karl Ravech will host with ESPN analysts, reporters and guests.  Baseball Tonight will originate from Williamsport Tuesday, Aug. 19, through Thursday, Aug. 21.  ESPN will present a Little League World Series Web Gems Special, recapping the best defensive plays throughout the tournament, Sunday, Aug. 24, at 2 p.m. (immediately following the consolation game).  Additionally, ESPN will feature a one-hour Little League World Series Preview Show Sunday, Aug. 24, at 2:30 p.m. (leading into the championship game at 3:30 p.m. on ABC).

2008 Little League World Series Schedule

All ESPN telecasts simulcast on ESPN360.com

Pool Play Round

 

 

 

         

Date

Time (ET)

Game

Williamsport Field

Network

Fri., Aug. 15

2 p.m.

Midwest (Rapid City, S.D.) vs. Southeast (Tampa, Fla.)

Volunteer

ESPN HD

 

4 p.m.

Canada vs. Latin America

Lamade

ESPN2 HD

 

6 p.m.

New England (Shelton, Conn.) vs. West (Waipahu, Hawaii)

Volunteer

ESPN2 HD

 

8 p.m.

Mid-Atlantic (Hagerstown, Md.) vs. Great Lakes (Jeffersonville, Ind.)

Lamade

ESPN HD

Sat., Aug. 16

11 a.m.

Caribbean vs. Mexico

Lamade

ESPN HD

 

1 p.m.

Europe vs. Asia-Pacific

Volunteer

ESPN HD

 

3:30 p.m.

Midwest (Rapid City, S.D.) vs. New England (Shelton, Conn.)

Lamade

ABC HD

 

6 p.m.

Japan vs. Middle East and Africa

Volunteer

ESPN HD

 

8 p.m.

Southwest (Lake Charles, La.) vs. Northwest (Mill Creek, Wash.)

Lamade

ESPN HD

Sun., Aug. 17

12 p.m.

Europe vs. Mexico

Lamade

ESPN Classic*

 

1 p.m.

Canada vs. Japan

Volunteer

ESPN2 HD

 

3:30 p.m.

Great Lakes (Jeffersonville, Ind.) vs. Southwest (Lake Charles, La.)

Lamade

ABC HD

 

6 p.m.

Latin America vs. Middle East and Africa

Volunteer

ESPN2 HD

 

8 p.m.

Southeast (Tampa, Fla.) vs. West (Waipahu, Hawaii)

Lamade

ESPN2 HD

Mon., Aug. 18

12 p.m.

Northwest (Mill Creek, Wash.) vs. Mid-Atlantic (Hagerstown, Md.)

Lamade

ESPN2 HD

 

1 p.m.

Asia-Pacific vs. Mexico

Volunteer

ESPN HD

 

3 p.m.

Midwest (Rapid City, S.D.) vs. West (Waipahu, Hawaii)

Lamade

ESPN2 HD

 

4 p.m.

Caribbean vs. Europe

Volunteer

ESPN HD

 

6 p.m.

Southeast (Tampa, Fla.) vs. New England (Shelton, Conn.)

Lamade

ESPN2 HD

Tue., Aug. 19

12 p.m.

Latin America vs. Japan

Lamade

ESPN2 HD

 

2 p.m.

Northwest (Mill Creek, Wash.) vs. Great Lakes (Jeffersonville, Ind.)

Volunteer

ESPN HD

 

4 p.m.

Canada vs. Middle East and Africa

Lamade

ESPN HD

 

6 p.m.

Caribbean vs. Asia-Pacific

Volunteer

ESPN2 HD

 

8 p.m.

Southwest (Lake Charles, La.) vs. Mid-Atlantic (Hagerstown, Md.)

Lamade

ESPN2 HD

         

Single Elimination

     
         

Wed., Aug. 20

4 p.m.

International Semifinal #1

Lamade

ESPN HD

 

8 p.m.

U.S. Semifinal #1

Lamade

ESPN HD

Thu., Aug. 21

4 p.m.

International Semifinal #2

Lamade

ESPN HD

 

8 p.m.

U.S. Semifinal #2

Lamade

ESPN HD

Sat., Aug. 23

12:30 p.m.

International Championship

Lamade

ABC HD

 

3 p.m.

U.S. Championship

Lamade

ABC HD

Sun., Aug. 24

12 p.m.

Consolation Game

Volunteer

ESPN HD

 

2 p.m.

Little League Web Gems Special

 

ESPN HD

 

2:30 p.m.

Little League World Series Preview

 

ESPN HD

 

3:30 p.m.

World Series Championship

Lamade

ABC HD

* denotes live ESPN Classic telecast; game re-airing on ESPN2 at 2 a.m. (11 p.m. PT)

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