Little League World Series 2019 teams, ages, pitch count & more: A guide to everything you need to know

As most kids begin preparing for a return to school, a few select 11- and 12-year-old baseball players prolong their summer and head to South Williamsport, Pa., for the 2019 Little League World Series.

The 73rd Little League World Series lasts 10 days, beginning Aug. 15, and features a 16-team field consisting of eight U.S. and eight international teams, facing off in a double-elimination tournament that culminates in the championship game Aug. 25.

Last year, Hawaii defeated South Korea to win the the tournament, the second time in the last three years that an American team has won.

While not every player competing in the World Series is destined for careers in Major League Baseball, some of the game's more notable names such as Cody Bellinger, Michael Conforto, Randal Grichuk and Todd Frazier all share roots of playing in the Little League World Series.

MORE LLWS 2019: Full schedule | Scores

2019 Little League World Series bracket

You can download a PDF of the full 2019 Little League World Series bracket here.

Little League World Series teams, rosters

Two brackets of eight teams — one international and one for the United States — compete in a double-elimination style tournament. The winner of each bracket faces off in a winner-take-all championship game. Each of the 16 teams represent geographic regions that the teams had to win a regional tournament in order to qualify for the World Series.

United States teams

International teams

Little League World Series location

Little League World Series games are played inside two stadiums in Williamsport, Pa. 

Howard J. Lamade Stadium has hosted every LLWS since 1959. In 2001, Little League Volunteer Stadium was added to accommodate an expanded field and more games.

Ages for Little League World Series players

This year's World Series will not feature any teenagers. A new rule, announced in 2015 but not effective until this season, changed the eligibility dates of players' birthdays from Dec. 31 to Aug. 31, thus eliminating any 13-year-olds. Last year, 85 of the 213 players were 13 years old.

For the first time, the tournament will instead consist of only players aged 11 and 12.

What is the LLWS pitch count limit?

One of the biggest factors in determining a team's ability to win is whether or not they have an ace on the mound. In an effort to protect young arms, Little League has a strict pitch count rule, requiring managers to strategically use their players wisely on the mound for the games and situations that matter most.

Any player on a team can pitch during a game, with the exception of someone who has played four or more innings as a catcher. A pitcher removed from the mound may remain in the game and play a different position.

Below is a chart of the different pitch-count thresholds and days of rest required. If a pitcher reaches a new threshold while facing a batter, the player can continue to pitch until the batter is retired.

Little League World Series field size

• 46 feet: Pitching rubber to home plate
• 60 feet: Length of basepaths
• 225 feet: Home plate to outfield fence

Both stadiums have twin fields about two-thirds the size of conventional MLB ballparks. The fences are 225 feet from home plate at all points of the outfield. In the infield, the pitching rubber is 46 feet from home plate with 60-foot basepaths.

The first girl since Mo'ne Davis in 2014 is playing

Maddy Freking of Minnesota Coon Rapids Andover American Little League will be the first girl to play in the Little League World Series since Mo'ne Davis pitched her way into the spotlight in 2014. Freking plays second base. She will be the 19th girl to play in the now 73-year history of the LLWS and is the first from Minnesota since Krissy Wendell in 1994.

Who won the LLWS in 2018?

Honolulu, Hawaii won the Little League World Series last year, defeating South Korea 3-0 in the championship game. Hawaii has sent four teams to the World Series title game since 2005. The state will again represent the West region with Central East Maui Little League earning a trip to the tournament.

U.S. teams are seeking to win consecutive championships for the first time since a stretch of five in a row from 2005-09. The U.S. is just 17-35 all time against international teams in the championship. 

List of past Little League World Series champions

Taiwan leads all countries and states with 17 LLWS titles. California leads all states with seven titles, trailing just Taiwan's 17 and Japan's 11 for the most all time.