The Junior League World Series returns to Taylor after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
By DAVE GORGON
For the Sunday Times
TAYLOR – The best teams of 13- and 14-year-old baseball players from around the globe are arriving in Taylor for the 40th Junior League World Series, scheduled for Aug. 14 to 21 at Heritage Park.
Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 8 p.m. Aug. 13 at World Series Field on the Taylor South Little League complex in Heritage Park. There will be a colorful parade of champions, presentations by dignitaries, a ceremonial first pitch and fireworks. The public is invited. Admission is free.
The JLWS gets under way with four games on Aug. 14, starting at noon. Twelve teams – six from the United States, six from international locations – will compete for the championship of the junior division of Little League baseball.
The series was founded in Taylor in 1981 and was played for 39 straight years until the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the event in 2020 and 2021. Volunteers have worked to have World Series Field ready to go in 2022.
“It’s a brand new year for the World Series,” Director Dan Bzura said. “The 12 teams arrive as champions, having won tournaments in the days, weeks and months leading up to this week. Like our visiting players, coaches, fans and umpires, we can’t wait for the games to get going.”
One of the six teams competing in the USA Pool will draw a large crowd – for good reason. The Taylor North Little League team won the 2021 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Five of the players on that team are part of the Taylor North team that won the Michigan District 5 tournament and qualified for this year’s host team for the Junior League series.
Taylor North plays the champion of the USA West region from Honolulu, Hawaii, at 5 p.m. Aug. 14.
Sunday’s opening game at noon features the USA Southeast region champion from the Loudoun South Little League in South Riding, Va., against the Central region champ from Whitefish Bay, Wis.
The 2 p.m. game pits the Asia-Pacific champions from the Chung Shan Junior Little League in Chinese Taipei vs. the South Czech Republic Little League from Brno, champions of the Europe-Africa region.
After the 5 p.m. game with Taylor North and Honolulu, opening day will conclude with the 8 p.m. game between the Latin America champs from the Pabao little League in Willemstad, Curacao, and the Canadian national champions from the South Vancouver Little League in British Columbia.
Four teams have opening-day byes: the Australian national champions from the Perth Metro East Little League; the Mexican national champions from the Santa Maria De Aguayo Little League in Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas; the USA East region champions from the Keystone Little League in Clinton County, Pa.; and the USA Southwest champs from the Oil Belt Little League in Corpus Christi, Texas. The four teams with byes start play Aug. 15.
Admission is $5 per carload per day, covering all four games of baseball. A week’s pass is $15. Admission is collected at the entryways to Heritage Park, 12111 Pardee Road. Parking is included.
The games are played in a modified double-elimination format. Teams play until they have lost twice. When four teams are remaining – two in the USA Pool and two in the International Pool – the winners play in single-elimination semifinal games on Aug. 19. The USA and International champions advance to the world championship game at noon Aug. 21.
All games will be streamed on ESPN+. The world championship game will be on ESPN2.
“We’ll have local, national and international participation,” Bzura said. “We’ll have a whole new lineup of players, coaches and umpires. The 2022 World Series will create memories that last a lifetime.”
Follow the JLWS at www.littleleague.org/world_series/2022/jlwbs/ and keep up to date on the Junior League World Series Facebook page.
NOTEBOOK:
Greg Bzura, the founder of the Junior League World Series, has retired after 42 years as director. Bzura is credited with helping grow the JLWS from a tournament with four American teams in 1981 to its current structure of 12 teams from all around the world. He has been the only tournament director since its inception. He is enshrined in both the Taylor and Wyandotte sports halls of fame.
New Director Dan Bzura is Greg’s son. He has been a lifelong JLWS volunteer and served as Greg’s right-hand man the last few years. Like his father, Dan is a former banker and former Taylor city councilman. He currently is chief of staff to Mayor Tim Woolley.
But that’s not the only major change in the JLWS administration.
George Glick has retired as director of umpires. Glick, who lives in Fort Wayne, Ind., first umpired at the JLWS in 1982 and never left the staff. He was elevated to director in 1999 following the passing of Charles McAllister. Glick is a former member of the Little League Baseball Board of Directors and a past district administrator. He has umpired for 52 years.
Glick will be succeeded by Jamie Hinojosa and Mike Roach, who will share the director’s role this year.
