To kick off the first season of the Intermediate Little League World Series, a parade will be held tonight in downtown Livermore.
Livermore was selected to host the games that begin Tuesday, pitting ballplayers from 10 teams around the globe in the 11- to 13-year-old age group, slightly older than typical Little League teams, series spokesman Derek Perez said.
The league is part of a new 50/70 division, with the numbers corresponding to the number of feet measuring the dimensions the field.
A 6 p.m. parade will include the players from the local Tri-Valley team the Pleasanton Nationals in practice uniform, along with five other national teams and four international teams, with hailing from as far as Japan and Ecuador.
"The boys are really excited to be here," Perez said. "They're pretty pumped."
The parade will go down First Street and head to Bankhead Theater at 2400 First St. where local dignitaries will hold a small ceremony with the players.
All the games will be played at Livermore's Max Baer Fields, located at 1310 Murdell St. The first game of the series will be Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Sports
The Pleasanton Nationals will step up to the plate 6 p.m. Tuesday against a team from Michigan.
Anyone is welcome to watch the games, which have free admission, Perez said.
"A lot of people that enjoy baseball...they'll come out and
watch," he said.
With the older junior-high age group, Perez said there is usually a higher skill level.
The championship game at 4 p.m. on Aug. 5 will be broadcast on
ESPN2.
More information about the series is available at
intermediateworldseries.org.
