NEWS ARCHIVES

UMPIRES NAMED: Congratulations to the following umpires selected for the 2010 World Series:

Clark Cole, Herman, Maine
Fred Lesser, West Deptford, N.J.
Greg Hodges, Needville, Tex.
George Rohr, George West, Tex.
Eric Snively, Pilot Rock, Ore.
Gary Eldred, Moreno Valley, Calif.
Mark Saurer, Louisville, Ky.
Raymond Laramie, Hammond, Ind.
Miles Darnell, Dade City, Fla.
Orlando Hernandez, Coconut Creek, Fla.
Gerald Takiguchi, Dublin, Calif.
Gilbert Pooulina, Wilemstad, Curacao

The umpire coordinator is Ron Kellie of the host District 9 of Washington.

OPENING CEREMONIES: If you're in the area you'll want to take in the World Series Opening Ceremonies Sunday at noon and Everest Park Field A. The introduction of the teams, the color guard, the singing of national anthems — it's always a very special and moving start to the series. Then the action starts with the first four games of pool play, starting at 2:30 p.m. and continuing into the evening.

SCHEDULE UPDATED: The tournament schedule has been updated with significant changes from the last version we posted. Be sure to check it out here. The championship game is now scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21.

PUERTO RICO WINS 2009 TITLE: The Latin American team from Maunabo, Puerto Rico, is the 2009 Junior Softball World Series champion.

Puerto Rico combined the outstanding pitching of Jocelyn De Leon, some key defensive plays and timely hitting to edge a tough team from Elyria, Ohio, that had gone unbeaten in the tournament.

It was a repeat performance for Manaubo, which also won the championship in 2007.

Here are the participating teams from 2009:

Asia-Pacific: ILLAM Central Little League, Makati City, Philippines
Canada: Windsor South Canadian Little League, Windsor, Ontario
EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa): Lombardia Little League, Milan, Italy
Latin America: ASOFEM Little League, Maunabo, Puerto Rico
U.S. Central: Elyria East Little League, Elyria, Ohio
U.S. East: Nanticoke/Newport Little League, Nanticoke, Pa.
U.S. Southeast: South Tampa Little Leagues, Tampa, Fla.
U.S. Southwest: La Grange Little League, La Grange, Texas
U.S. West: Snow Canyon Little League, Santa Clara, Utah
Host: Redmond/Eastlake Little Leagues, Redmond and Sammamish, Wash.