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Little League Extra

Dominican Republic, Panama play exhibition at Lyter Elementary in Montoursville

By NICOLAS SEVERINI 3 min read

Wednesday was another busy day for the Little League World Series.

Due to weather cancellations and the expansion of the tournament as a whole, eight teams participated in four games to represent a full slate in South Williamsport complex with the tournament etneringits final days. But little did the thousands in attendance at the South Williamsport complex knew, in the next town over, the same game on a much different stage as being played.

The usual home of Montoursville Little League was occupied by Panama's David Doleguita Little League and Los Nacionales Little League from the Dominican Republic.

The two sides, who both lost their opening match of the World Series in a close encounter with Nicaragua before being dispatched from the tournament by Canada and Japan, respectively, met on the diamond in front of a mix of locals and families of the athletes in the stands.

The scenes could not be more picturesque.

Despite an overall Little League World Series tournament that has been plagued by multiple rain delays, the conditions in Montoursville couldn't have been better. By the name of the first pitch, skies were partly cloudly and the temperature was great for a late-summer evening baseball game.

"We wanted to give them another great experience," discussed Montoursville Little League building and grounds manager Matt Francis. "We had two guys out here for a couple of hours last night, with me doing the lines after. Then (we) were here for a couple hours today. … It's not what they have at Lamade, but we wanted to give them something local and see what the local Little Leaguers have here.:

If there was any doubt regarding the passion or competitiveness of the two sides, they would be quelled early on. After going into their normal pre-game routines, the teams suited up to partake as they were up at Lamade or Volunteer Stadiums.

Home runs, strikeouts and passion from both dugouts mirrored the illustrious event with the ballpark itself grounding the event like it was just two normal teams having a game and playing.

By the end of the week, a new champion will be crowned in South Williasmprot and new memories will be made in what is the most illustrious youth tournament in the world for baseball.

But, beyond the gravitas of a new champion, it will be memories like Wednesday afternoon's explots in Montoursville that will last far longer than the celebrations at Lamade.

Starting at /week.