The 12th annual Intermediate 50/70 Baseball World Series is officially underway in Livermore, California, bringing eight days of intense action. But if you’re looking for a rematch of last year’s epic final, think again: neither Flor Amarillo Little League of Valencia, Venezuela, who took home the tournament title, nor runner-up Central East Maui Little League of Wailuku, Hawaii, are back in the hunt for the 2026 championship. That leaves a fresh, 12-team field ready to make its mark, and the title is absolutely up for grabs!
The Diamond Details and Early Firepower
This isn’t your standard Little League setup. We’re talking 11- to 13-year-olds playing on a 50-foot pitching distance and 70-foot base paths, a perfect intermediate step before the big league dimensions. If you want to catch every pitch, you’ll need the ESPN app because none of these games are hitting national television. The action kicked off strong on Sunday, Aug. 2. Asia-Pacific wasted no time, blowing out Australia 10-0. California D57 snagged an 8-5 win against Southeast, Europe-Africa beat Canada 4-2, and Central edged out East 3-2 in a tight one. Monday brought more heat: Asia-Pacific kept rolling with a 6-5 win over Latin America, and West absolutely crushed California D57 16-6. Puerto Rico made a statement with a dominant 15-2 victory against Europe-Africa, and Central took down Southwest 7-5.
Who’s Still Standing? Elimination Drama Heats Up
The tournament has been brutal, with teams battling to avoid elimination. Tuesday saw Australia get knocked out after an 11-1 loss to Europe-Africa, while Southeast sent Southwest home with a 7-5 win. Latin America shut out Canada 10-0, ending their run, and California D57 just barely squeaked by East 11-10 to keep their championship hopes alive. Wednesday was no less intense. Latin America eliminated Europe-Africa 9-5, and California D57 continued its impressive run, taking down Southeast 11-1. Puerto Rico secured another win, beating Asia-Pacific 2-1 in a close contest. Then, West delivered a crushing 17-0 shutout against Central, showing everyone they mean business. On Thursday, Asia-Pacific took a narrow 5-4 victory over Latin America, sending them packing. California D57 will face Central in a crucial matchup at 10 p.m. Eastern time on the ESPN app.
Championship Weekend Looms Large
The stage is set for an epic conclusion. This Saturday, Aug. 8, we’ve got a doubleheader to determine who plays for the whole thing. First up is the International championship at 4 p.m. ET on the ESPN app, where Puerto Rico will battle Asia-Pacific. Following that, the U.S. championship game kicks off at 8 p.m. ET, featuring West against the winner of the California D57 vs. Central game. Then, on Sunday, Aug. 9, it all comes down to the Championship. Will Puerto Rico or Asia-Pacific take home the international crown and face off against the best of the U.S.? You absolutely do not want to miss these kids leaving everything on the field in Livermore!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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