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The Litchfield Park Little League All-Stars, known as The Park, represented Arizona at the West Region International Little League Baseball tournament in San Bernadino, CA., where they fought for a bid in the 2024 Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, PA.
The Park is referred to as Arizona in the 2024 Little League Baseball West Region and played against three all-star teams from Northern California, Hawaii and Southern California for the title of West Region Champion. In the four-team bracket, the first team to win three games moved on in the double elimination tournament.
In its first game, Arizona played against Southern California and lost. Taking advantage of the double elimination rule, Arizona had the opportunity to play the Northern California team the following day when Arizona won 3-2 in a game against Sacramento’s All-Stars and moved on to game five of the six game series.
The Arizona boys played in game five Aug. 7, against the Hawaii team. The 10- to 13-year-olds played in six action-packed innings resulting in a 13-9 loss.
Arizona gave up six runs in the first inning through three walks, a hit batter and a home run but were able to claim four runs of their own. Inning two brought The Park up to five runs.
By inning three, Hawaii had 12 runs off only four hits and seven walks.
The Park came back in the fifth inning with four additional runs in a combination of hits, fielding errors and wild pitches. The sixth and final inning rounded the game out with Hawaii, having a three-run lead, scoring an additional run.
Families and fans from Arizona and Hawaii alike sat in the stands cheering for their young sportsmen and the communities they represent.
“We are so proud of these athletes,” Jason Gibbs, The Park’s head coach, said in an interview before the game. Gibbs said his team is representative of the hub of young talent and community spirit in the West Valley and that they were ready to represent Arizona.
The Hawaii team will go on to play Southern California Aug. 9 for the chance to play as the Western Regional Champion in the Little League World Series.
