With the long, grueling schedule and results it took to get to Williamsport, the ceremony at Volunteer Stadium provided a reprieve from the stress and hustle of the tournament to properly honor the teams that made it this far.

Yesterday, 20 baseball teams, 10 from the United States and 10 international, all met on the same baseball diamond and were honored as the finalists for 2023 Little League World Series.

After each team took to the field with their fellow opponents for a welcome walk across the diamond, a special speech was given by former Major Leaguer Todd Frazier. Frazier, who would help dominate in Williamsport with his fellow Toms River, New Jersey teammates to capture the 1998 crown, gave a short but heartfelt speech reminding the competitors to play hard and have fun.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Twenty teams from around the world enter the field at Volunteer Stadium as part of opening ceremonies for the Little League World Series on Wednesday in South Williamsport.

Frazier then played catcher as the first pitch was thrown by a local little leaguer from Challenger at Lancaster County Little League, officially beginning the near two weeks of baseball in the complex.

Even before the first game between Panama and the Euro-African representative’s in the Czech Republic, there were storylines coming into action.

This tournament features newcomers, such as Cuba, who made it to the series for the first time in the country’s history. Fargo little league would also get their special moment walking into Volunteer Stadium as the first North Dakota Little League team to do so.

“It’s incredible,” said North Dakota assistant coach Todd Molden. “The amount of support we got from our state has been unbelievable. All the way from our governor right on down, it’s been amazing. The outpouring from across the state, they’re all behind us and it’s pretty special.”

While many eyes plaudit the newcomers, some familiar teams return to Williamsport for a chance to capture Little League glory.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Twenty teams from around the world enter the field at Volunteer Stadium as part of opening ceremonies for the Little League World Series on Wednesday in South Williamsport.

One of the first names called out at the opening ceremony was the Southeast representatives, and for the third time in as many years, the state of Tennessee dawned the yellow jerseys.

Tennessee, the finalist in the U.S. bracket in 2022 before losing to Hawaii in the championship, will look to tie up loose ends for the 2023 season.

“The past two years we’ve done pretty well, so I would say there are pretty high standards for our team and I believe we can achieve that,” said Lucas McCauley, star infielder for the Southeast squad.

Internationally, Panama would also set an early tone, with a grand slam in the opening game of the tournament against the Czech Republic setting the platform for a 4-0 victory.

While many ball games are yet to be played and the long climb to the end of the bracket can be hectic and taxing, the opening day ceremonies at Volunteer Stadium Wednesday starts that climb off on a good note for the competitors, granting a chance to be honored and enjoy the massive stadium before the diamond becomes a battlefield.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Twenty teams from around the world enter the field at Volunteer Stadium as part of opening ceremonies for the Little League World Series on Wednesday in South Williamsport.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Twenty teams from around the world enter the field at Volunteer Stadium as part of opening ceremonies for the Little League World Series on Wednesday in South Williamsport.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Twenty teams from around the world enter the field at Volunteer Stadium as part of opening ceremonies for the Little League World Series on Wednesday in South Williamsport.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Caleb Showalter of Harrisburg Challenger Little League throws out the first pitch at Volunteer Stadium as part of opening ceremonies for the Little League World Series on Wednesday in South Williamsport.