I have the privilege of calling a Little League World Series once again this year! This will mark my third consecutive call of the Intermediate 50/70 Baseball World Series, held from July 28-August 4 in Livermore, California. It's for 13-year-olds, played on a field slightly larger than Little League but still smaller than Junior League (50 feet from the pitcher's mound to home plate, 70 feet between the bases). Following this tournament and its qualifiers closely over the last three years, I've come to expect fantastic action and stories, and I'm looking forward to bringing them to you again this year!
The 2024 Intermediate World Series will air on ESPN+, and I will lay out the backstory for one of the 12 competing teams each day from now until the tournament's start on July 28. I hope you'll read along and remember a nugget here and there when you watch the tournament!
Eastbank, Kenner, Louisiana
League: Eastbank Little League
Location:
Kenner, Louisiana
Championships:
Louisiana (unopposed)
Southwest Region
Record: 4-0
Date Qualified: July 25
Noteworthy:
2019 Little League World Series champions (12yo)
2nd consecutive Louisiana qualifier
Coaches: Scott Frazier, Chris Schexnaydre, Ryan Roussel
Many teams that win their state title by default do not last long when they get to regionals. Untested as a group by recent game action and typically hailing from states with lower participation numbers, they go out in the early rounds. But when teams in the Southwest Region saw Eastbank Little League as the Louisiana state champion, they knew this was different.
Eastbank sauntered into New Braunfels, Texas (Hurricane Beryl forced a relocation from Sugar Land) and lapped the field, putting up at least 11 runs in all four wins. The Cajuns wound up racing out of town due to more bad weather, getting to Houston late Thursday to catch a Friday flight to their ultimate destination: Livermore.
The league, located adjacent to Louis Armstrong Airport near New Orleans, was only founded in 2013, and its founder, Scott Frazier, led the 12-year-old team to the 2019 Little League World Series championship. Frazier thought that was his last hurrah as a coach, but like so many teams, this group's motivation began with their elimination as 12-year-olds, when they battled through illness to reach extra innings against Ascension Parish in the state final, trying to force the 'IF' game. Down a run in the 8th and down several players due to a stomach bug, Eastbank loaded the bases, but a snappy double play ended their all-star campaign. (
For the neutrals out there who might want a taste of Louisiana baseball atmosphere, here's the clip; Eastbank fans, look away.)
Ascension Parish (which reached Livermore last year but did not offer a 13-year-old league or all-star team this year) saw its 12-year-olds go on to the Southwest Region final against Needville, Texas, which eventually reached the U.S. championship game as the unbeaten team. So Eastbank knew it was competitive with the country's best, and the 13-year-olds proved it this week.
In Livermore, Eastbank will open against tournament veteran HYR, and it will need to show off its pitching depth (it has some: the first two games in New Braunfels were combined no-hitters) in a hurry. Righty Joe Banquer, who started three of Eastbank's four games in the regionals and went the distance against San Antonio's Northside Suburban on Thursday, will not be available to pitch until Tuesday.
| Road to Livermore |
Southwest Region
|
July 20
| Deer Creek, Edmond OK | W | 19-0 (5) |
July 21
| Santa Fe NM | W | 16-0 (5)
|
July 23
| Northside Suburban, San Antonio TX (winners' bracket final) | W | 13-1 |
July 25
| Northside Suburban, San Antonio TX (final) | W | 11-1 (6)
|
| Intermediate Baseball World Series |
| July 28 | HYR, Georgetown IN | W | 8-2 |
| July 29 | Livermore CA | W | 4-2 |
| July 31 | Scripps Ranch, San Diego CA | W | 11-1 (5) |
| Aug 3 | Livermore CA (US final) | W | 3-1 |
| Aug 4 | West Seoul KOR (World Series final) |
| 6pm PT |
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