Intermediate Little League World Series Kicks Off In Livermore

LIVERMORE (CBS SF) -- To kick off the first season of the Intermediate Little League World Series, a parade was held Monday evening in downtown Livermore.

Livermore was selected to host the games that begin Tuesday, pitting ballplayers from 10 teams around the globe in the 11- to 13-year-old age group, slightly older than typical Little League teams, series spokesman Derek Perez said.

The league is part of a new 50/70 division, with the numbers corresponding to the number of feet measuring the dimensions the field.

Monday's parade included the players from the local Tri-Valley team - the Pleasanton Nationals - in practice uniform, along with five other national teams and four international teams, with hailing from as far as Japan and Ecuador.

"The boys are really excited to be here," Perez said. "They're pretty pumped."

The parade went down First Street and headed to the Bankhead Theater, where local dignitaries held a small ceremony with the players.

All the games will be played at Livermore's Max Baer Fields, located at 1310 Murdell Street. The first game of the series was set for Tuesday at 9 a.m.

The Pleasanton Nationals were scheduled to step up to the plate 6 p.m. Tuesday against a team from Michigan.

Anyone is welcome to watch the games, which have free admission, Perez said.

"A lot of people that enjoy baseball...they'll come out and watch," he said.

With the older junior-high age group, Perez said there is usually a higher skill level.

The championship game at 4 p.m. on Aug. 5 will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.

More information about the series is available at intermediateworldseries.org.

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