                      
|
The Senior League World Series will feature five regional teams from the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Maine District 3 champion – the host district. Information on teams will be posted when it becomes available. 
The Philippines were 3-1 in the Asia-Pacific regional, held June 23-28 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The team outscored opponents 28-16. The 6-5 win over Guam in the championship avenged a 9-7 loss to Guam in the teams’ first games. Illam Central will be making its third trip to Bangor since the Senior League World Series moved to Mansfield Stadium in 2002. Previous appearances were in 2006 and 2008, in which the league was 1-7 (.125). Asia-Pacific teams are 7-21 (.250) in Bangor World Series. The Philippines will play in Pool A, which includes Maine District 3, Canada, South Carolina, and Northern California. The team’s first game will be at 2:30 p.m., Aug. 16 against Northern California. Uniform colors: Navy blue and red.
This will be the first time a team from Italy will travel to a Bangor World Series. EMEA teams are 4-24 (.143) in pool play action since 2002 and have never advanced to the semifinal round. The region’ last win in the series came in 2005, when Georgia YMCA L.L., Tbilsi, Georgia, shocked Santiago Veraguas, Panama, 2-1. Since that upset, EMEA teams have lost 12 straight. Italy will play in Pool B, which includes Aruba, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Texas East. Its first game will be at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 16, against New Jersey. Uniform colors: Orange and black.
Latin America teams are 21-7 (.750) in pool play in Bangor World Series and 27-11 (.711) overall, with six semifinal appearances and four championship appearances. Latin America won championships in 2002 (Pabao L.L., Willemstad, Curacao) and 2006 (Paraguana L.L., Falcon, Venezuela). Aruba will play in Pool B, which includes Italy, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Texas East. Its first game will be against Wisconsin at 8 p.m., Aug. 16. Uniform colors: Green and gold.
2009 will represent the second straight year Bangor has been the host team. Last year’s team was 1-3 in World Series pool play, with its win being a 14-1, 5-inning victory over Illam Central L.L.., Makati City, Philippines. One of Bangor’s 2008 losses was to Florida, 10-9 in nine innings. Maine District 3 teams are 5-23 (.179) in the World Series since the event came to Bangor in 2002. Bangor teams are 4-16 (.200). No Maine District 3 team has won more than one game in a series. The host team has failed to win a game only twice in the last seven series. Bangor will play in Pool A along with Canada, the Philippines, South Carolina, and Northern California. The team’s first game will be the series opener, against Canada, at noon, Aug. 16. Uniform colors: Cardinal and gray.
This is the first time since the World Series moved to Bangor in 2002 that a team from South Carolina has reached the series. U.S. Southeast teams are 20-8 (.714) in pool play since 2002 and have reached the semifinals every year during this time – the only region to accomplish the feat. The region’s semifinal record is 3-4 (.429) and its championship record is 1-2, with the region’s only win coming in 2007 when Cartersville, Ga., beat Falcon, Venezuela. South Carolina will play in Pool A along with Maine District 3, the Philippines, Canada, and Northern California. Its first game is scheduled for 8 p.m., Aug. 17 against Northern California. Uniform colors: Burgundy and gold.
Northern California outscored opponents 62-20, with 10 of the 20 surrendered runs coming from Hilo, Hawaii, whom Northern California defeated 11-10 in pool play. The team’s average margin of victory was 7 runs including the 11-10 win, 8.2 excluding the 11-10 win. U.S. West teams are 23-5 (.821) in World Series pool play since 2002, the best record of any region. Overall, the region is 28-10 (.737) with six semifinal appearances in seven years and four championship appearances. The region won a World Series title in 2002 but has not won since. Northern California will play in Pool A with Canada, Maine District 3, the Philippines, and South Carolina. Its first game will be at 2:30 p.m., Aug. 16 against the Philippines. Uniform colors: Gold and black.
West Madison National is the second league from Madison, Wis., to play in a Bangor World Series. Kennedy American played in the 2006 series and had a record of 1-3. U.S. Central teams are 13-14 (.481) in pool play in Bangor World Series, with two semifinal appearances and one championship appearance. Overall, the region is 15-15 (.500) with one championship, won in 2005 by Urbandale, Iowa. The region has a record of 4-7 (.364) since the 2005 championship. Wisconsin will play in Pool B with Aruba, Italy, New Jersey, and Texas East. Its first game is at 8 p.m., Aug. 16 against Aruba. No U.S. Central team has beaten a Latin American team in a Bangor World Series. Uniform colors: Red and navy blue.
West University is the second team from Houston to advance to a Bangor World Series. In 2002, Northwest 45 L.L., represented the U.S. Southwest region, finishing 3-1 in pool play before losing in the semifinal round. A team from Texas has represented the Southwest now for six out of eight Bangor series. U.S. Southwest teams are 15-12 (.556) in pool play and 15-14 (.517) overall, with semifinal losses in 2002 and 2007. Texas East will play in Pool B with Aruba, Italy, Wisconsin, and New Jersey. Its first game will be at 10 a.m., Aug. 17 against Italy. Uniform colors: Gray and navy blue.
A team from New Jersey has now reached the World Series every year since the series moved to Bangor in 2002. This will be South Vineland’s third trip to Bangor. The league was 2-2 in 2002 and 2-2 in 2003. U.S. East teams have a 19-9 (.679) record in pool play in Bangor World Series and an overall record of 23-11 (.676). The region has made four appearances in the semifinal round, going 2-2, and two appearances in the championship round, winning titles in 2004 and 2008. New Jersey will play in Pool B, with Aruba, Italy, Texas East, and Wisconsin. Its first game will be at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 16 against Italy. Uniform colors: Black and silver.
Canadian teams have a 12-16 (.429) pool play record in Bangor World Series, with one – unsuccessful – semifinal appearance, by Whalley L.L., Surrey, British Columbia, in 2008. Canada will play in Pool A with Maine District 3, South Carolina, the Philippines, and Northern California. Its first game will be against Maine District 3 in the series opener at noon, Aug. 16. Uniform colors: Blue and red. |
Illam Central L.L., of Makati City, Philippines, defeated Guam 6-5 on June 28 to win the Asia-Pacific regional and become the first team to qualify for this year’s World Series.
Friuli Venezia Giulia L.L., of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, defeated Kvint L.L., of Tiraspol, Maldova, 10-6 on July 18 to win the Europe-Middle East-Africa regional. The Italians were 3-2 in pool play at the regional, held in Ramstein, Germany, and 4-2 overall. They outscored opponents 71-38.
Aruba South L.L., of San Nicolas, Aruba, capped off an undefeated run in the Latin America regional by defeating Juan A. Bibiloni L.L., of Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, 19-5 on July 18 to advance to Bangor. Aruba was 5-0 in pool play and 7-0 overall in the regional, held in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. The team outscored opponents 76-23.
Bangor East/West L.L., of Bangor, Maine, won the Maine District 3 championship and the privilege to be this year’s host team with a 10-6 win over Old Town/Orono-Veazie L.L. on July 22. Bangor was 4-0 in the district’s double-elimination tournament, held at Mansfield Stadium.
Northwood L.L., of Greenville, S.C., won the U.S. Southeast regional title with a 5-4 victory over North Springs L.L., of Coral Springs, Fla., on Aug. 11. South Carolina went 3-0 in pool play and 5-0 overall in the eight-team regional held in Melbourne, Fla. The team outscored opponents 58-14. Twenty-one of those runs came in the semifinal, a 21-3 win over Georgia.
Northern California representative Niles-Centerville L.L., from Fremont, Calif., defeated Southern California’s Corona National L.L., from Corona, Calif., 2-1 on Aug. 11 to win the U.S. West championship. Northern California went undefeated in the 11-team regional, held in Ontario, Calif., going 4-0 in pool play and 6-0 overall.
West Madison National L.L., of Madison, Wis., won the U.S. Central regional on Aug. 12 with a 7-6 win over Northeast/Fraternal Northwest L.L., of Midland, Mich. Wisconsin was 4-0 in pool play and 6-0 overall at the regional, held in Columbia, Mo. The team outscored opponents 55-14.
West University L.L., of Houston, Texas (Texas East), defeated Del Mar L.L., of Laredo, Texas (Texas West), 18-3 in the U.S. Southwest regional championship on Aug. 12. Texas East was 3-0 in the double-elimination tournament, held in Seguin, Texas. The team outscored opponents 33-10.
South Vineland L.L., from Vineland, N.J., defeated Suffern L.L., of Suffern, N.Y., 8-6 in nine innings to win the U.S. East regional on Aug. 13 in West Deptford, N.J. South Vineland was 4-0 in the 10-team, double-elimination tournament and outscored opponents 34-11.
Cornwall L.L., from Cornwall, Ontario, won the Canadian national championship with a 3-2 win over host Saint John L.L., Saint John, New Brunswick, on Aug. 13. Ontario outscored opponents 39-21 with a record of 3-2 in pool play and 5-2 overall. The championship game win over New Brunswick avenged a 9-2 loss on the last day of pool play.