Of course, it does not come as a surprise anymore but it is disappointing nevertheless. Tonight, Little League Baseball announced it has canceled the Little League World Series and Regional Tournaments as well due to the coronavirus.
For the first time since its induction in 1947, there will be no tournament held. Also, the Little League Classic in which two MLB teams face each other in the ballpark of the Williamsport CrossCutters is canceled.
A thorough investigation of the impact of the COVID-19 virus, the organization of the Little League tournaments could not do anything else than cancel it. To many lives are at stake. The pandemic would have had a major impact on the 6,500 Little League programs all over the world.
“This is a heartbreaking decision for everyone at Little League International, but more so for those millions of Little Leaguers who have dreamt of one day playing in one of our seven World Series events,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “After exhausting all possible options, we came to the conclusion that because of the significant public health uncertainty that will still exist several months from now, and with direction from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine, as well as senior public health officials and government leaders from locations where our other six World Series are held, as well as their qualifying regional tournaments, it will not be possible to proceed with our tournaments as we’ve hosted them for nearly 75 years.”
If everything goes well, the tournament will be played in 2021 again.
