Local organizers are preparing for an event at the Greenville Town Common to celebrate the start of the 2024 Little League Softball World Series, which will again feature a team from Pitt County.
The opening ceremony to welcome players, coaches, umpires, families and media from around the world is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Aug. 3 at the park, 105 E. First St., said Visit Greenville, NC, the community’s tourism development organization.
The first day of play is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Aug. 4 at Greenville’s Elms Street Park when the Pitt County Girls Softball League, playing as the North Carolina Region representative, takes on the Asia-Pacific Region squad.
The PCGSL 12U team knocked off Johnston County in a 15-0 shutout to claim the state crown and nail down the automatic berth to Stallings Stadium. On its way, Pitt also eliminated a familiar foe and perennial powerhouse in Rowan County in a 6-1 decision on Sunday.
The PCGSL 12s charged to the title game last August before, amid sweltering heat, they fell to the Mid-Atlantic representative from Massapequa, N.Y.
The tournament features eight teams from across the United States and one each from the Asia-Pacific, Canada, Europe-Africa and Latin America regions. Emilia Romagna (Bologna, Italy) won the European and African title in June to earn the first spot in the series, according to the Little League organization. Regional tournaments are underway to set the remaining field.
Admission is free, and all games will be broadcast on the ESPN platforms, including ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, and ESPN+, with the final championship game on Aug. 11 being shown on ABC again this year.
This year’s event also will feature the return of AU Pro Games, bringing Athletes Unlimited Softball players to Greenville to meet and interact with LLSWS participants and play a doubleheader at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Aug. 7, at the ECU Max R. Joyner Family Stadium.
This will be the fourth LLSWS staged in Greenville. The 2019 tournament was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 series did not include international teams and attendance was limited due to health precautions.
This year’s event was the last in a five-year agreement between the city and the Little League organization for Greenville to host the tournament. The Little League International Board of Directors announced in January it would extend the contract, and the City Council in March unanimously approved an extension to host through at least 2027.
The contract requires the city to give the Greenville-Pitt County Sports Commission $25,000 a year to support and market the tournament, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
The international and televised tournament is estimated to bring nearly $1.3 million in economic impact to the Greenville-Pitt County community in August, according to Visit Greenville, NC.
The opening ceremony will begin at 4:45 p.m. when the athletes arrive at Town Common to have dinner. They will then line up at 5:45 p.m. for walk-up songs and introductions at Greenville Toyota Amphitheater stage.
The opening ceremonies start at 6 p.m. with team and athlete introductions, umpire introductions and comments from local dignitaries.
Mayor P.J. Connelly and City Manager Michael Cowin will then throw the 2024 LLSWS ceremonial first pitch.
The community can celebrate from 6:30-8 p.m. with games, activities, music and dancing. Activities such as friendship bracelet making, Riverside Recreation kayak and peddle boat rides and more will be offered.
Food Trucks will Include Taco Soul, Tucci’s Fired Up, Pointer’s BBQ, The Burp Wagon, Astros Corn Dogs and East Carolina Italian Ice.
To learn more, visit www.LittleLeague.org/LLSWS.
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