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This is the running story of Australia at the 2024 Little League Baseball World Series.

It is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, with a group of 12-year-olds from Sydney set to play in front of a global TV audience of millions.

Australia are represented by Sydney’s Hills, who won the qualifying event at the Australian Little League Championship in June. They are in Williamsport taking on the best teams from the best leagues around the world of the same age group.

It’s considered one of the best sporting events on the planet and a junior baseball team from Sydney gets to play in it.

The 2024 Little League World Series starts August 14 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Twenty local baseball teams from around the world qualified through various events to play in the crown jewel of the Little League events.

The Hills won Australia’s national Little League Championships in June and will battle it out with the likes of Japan, Latin-America, Canada, the Caribbean and four other teams in the international half of the bracket.

About the Little League World Series – an experience like no other

Little League is, after all, is the world’s largest organised youth sports program. This tournament is for the U13 age group.

This tournament is something else. All games are broadcast on ESPN. A game between 11- and 12-year-olds gathers over 3,000,000 people watching on television.

It’s wild. Games in the Little League World Series outdraw MLB baseball games played at the same time.

MLB Broadcasted Dan Ravech explains this phenomenon well to Baseball America.

“A Major League Baseball game during the regular season, you’re getting fans of those teams,” Ravech said. “With the Little League World Series you’re getting fans of baseball, fans of nostalgia, fans of memories.”

“You’re getting fans who once played baseball and really enjoy watching kids smile. They like watching kids perform. They like watching kids make mistakes. They like the goofiness. They like the reactions. There’s a part of seeing 11- and 12-year-old boys and girls do things that bring you back to a time in your life that maybe you remember more fondly.”

Major League Baseball even schedules a regular season game on the same field these players from Hills will play on. This year, the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers will play in front of the world’s best 12-year-old baseball players.

Australia’s team in this competition hails from the Hills of Sydney, made up of players from the baseball clubs of Rouse Hill, Baulkham Hills, Quakers Hill, Castle Hills. More on them below.

They’re in for a wild experience that includes playing in front of millions on TV, over 10,000 in the stadium, attending an MLB baseball game, and partaking in a parade.

HOW THE TOURNAMENT WORKS (and streaming details)

It’s a double-elimination tournament, meaning you have to lose two games to be eliminated.

Australia’s first game is Friday 16 August at 5:00PM local time (7:00AM in Sydney). They’ll play the winner of Asia-Pacific (Chinese-Taipei) and Canada (team yet to qualify).

It’s a knockout bracket that can be viewed here. 

You can watch games in Australia via the ESPN App, or follow along on GameChanger.

HOW THEY QUALIFIED

Hills qualified by winning the 2024 Australian Little League Championships. They also won the NSW State Championships.

Many of these players won the 2023 Australian Division II title.

Here is some more information:

State: New South Wales
Clubs: Sydney’s Hills – Rouse Hill, Baulkham Hills, Quakers Hill, Castle Hills
Australian Senior League Championship Record: 5-2 (outscored opponents 42-19)

It wasn’t easy for Hills but they persevered and battled their way through. The showed a tremendous amount of resiliency throughout the tournament.

Hills emerged through Group A with a 3-2 record. They advanced to the semi-finals by winning a four-team tiebreaker.

Memorable group stage wins included a 1-0 nailbiter over state rivals Cronulla and an epic 9-4 tussle over Eastern Athletics.

They showed their moxie in the finals. Hills trailed in both their games but still ended up winning. To make it more impressive, they won two games in one day. You can read about the hectic final day here.

They defeated Adelaide Rays 8-2 in the semi finals and the Central Firebirds 16-3 in the Gold Medal game. Watch the highlights below.

Hills showed their true team spirit in the Gold Medal game. In fact, every member of the Hills reached base during the game, emphasising the great team effort they had in the win.

Spencer Dobb pitched 3.1 innings in his start, striking out six and allowing two runs.

Hudson Dobb took a fantastic diving catch to secure the win in run-rule fashion.

Hills will be making a little bit of history at this tournament. Emma Gainsford will become the first female from Australia to play in the Little League World Series, and the Dobb brothers will become the first triplets to ever play together at this internationally famous event.

It’s time to meet the players.

Let’s meet the Hills, your Australian representatives

Chase Newell (Quakers Hill Pirates) – 12-year-old Chase was part of Hills’ Division II win in 2023 as well as this year’s gold medal squad. Chase had three hits and an RBI at nationals. He says: “I love playing with my all my team mates, When I’m older I would love to play baseball with all my brothers and my Dad coaching us.” Newell hit a key walk-off double to win the game in the semi-finals of the NSW state championships to help Hills qualify for nationals.

Emma Gainsford (Quakers Hill Pirates) – 12-year-old Emma had a huge charter season. She won Australia’s first Little League Girls championship for NSW in May, and then played a big role in the Little League titles in June. Her triple in the Gold Medal game was a decisive moment. She also pitched 2.1 innings of shutout ball in the tournament. Emma says: “Pitching is my favourite thing to do in baseball but I enjoy all the different parts of the game and all the little battles to try and win the game.” Emma dominated on the mound at Little League girls and says NSW state team player / Brisbane Bandit Isobel Lambert is a role model.

Ethan Cross (Quakers Hill Pirates) – 12-year-old Ethan says he loves to hit dingers and his favourite player is Fernando Tatis Jr. Ethan had four hits at nationals and was second on the team with 4 runs batted in. He also pitched five innings, allowing just two runs. He says he is proud of how his teammates bounce back after adversity. “We switched on after our loss on the first day of state and won the rest of our games and made it this far so far.”

Finn Kennedy (Castle Hill Knights) – Finn recovered from a broken arm which caused him to miss half-a-season not too long ago. At nationals, Finn had four hits and also pitched 0.2 innings. His favourite ABL player is Solomon Maguire, who is also from Castle Hill. Finn just loves baseball. Why does he love the game? “Friends, Fun – and because it’s baseball.” Well said, Finn.

Hugh Graham (Rouse Hill Wildcats) – 12-year-old Hugh went to a come and try event at Rouse Hill when he was 10 and the rest of history. In fact, this is his first year of representative baseball. Now, he’s off to America as an important part of the Australian squad. At nationals, Hugh had four hits! “My favorite thing is catching and he friendships I have made.”

Noah Whittle (Castle Hill Knights): Part of last year’s Division II winner, White made a seamless jump to the next level showing he can contribute on both sides of the ball. He pitched five innings at nationals and also had an RBI with the bat. His favourite player is former ABL star Ronald Acuna Jr on the Atlanta Braves. Why does he love baseball? “Friendships with new team mates and enjoyment of playing baseball.”

Sayre Howick (Castle Hill Knights): Sayre was one of the best pitchers at the Little League national championships. He also led Hills with eight hits. No player pitched more innings than Sayre for Hills. He logged 10.2 innings and allowed just one earned run. Sayre says he takes a lot of pride in is pitching abilities at all levels he’s played. He’s had some impressive performances. It’s earned him a reputation. Says Sayre: “I love pitching and striking batters out. I’m also pretty famous at Castle Hill for always having many different flavours of sunflower seeds in my kit bag. At training we like playing blitz ball.”

Talen Lachmund-Davis (Quakers Hill Pirates): Talen says he takes a lot of pride in his athletics ability. “I was doing little athletics and then found baseball. I was 7 turning 8, my uncle played baseball and my nan convinced my parents to let me play and that’s when we fell in love with the game. I love pitching and running bases, it never gets old.” Talen collected three hits and scored a pair of runs at nationals.

William Bennett (Baulkham Hills): Bennett has been super reliable for Hills over the past two seasons, and two championships. He tallied a pair of hits at nationals, including an important one in the Gold Medal game. Bennett also contributed with two innings pitched.

Fletcher Dobb (Quaker Hills Pirates): A dual threat, and one of three triplets. Fletcher Dobb starred on the mound in a game vs the Athletics, tossing 5.0 innings of shutout ball. He struck out five and chipped in with two hits with the bat that game. Fletcher collected a big hit in the Gold Medal game, too. Fletcher was equal second on the team with seven hits.

Hudson Dobb (Quaker Hills Pirates): Want a big highlight? Call on Hudson. He took multiple screaming catches at second base during the national championships, including this one to end the tournament. Dobb also made this play to end a game in the group stages. He’s handy with the bat, too. Hudson was equal second on the team with seven hits.

Spencer Dobb (Quaker Hills Pirates): Cometh the moment, cometh the (growing) man. Spencer was entrusted with the Gold Medal game start. He was great. He pitched 3.1 innings in his start, striking out six and allowing two runs. You’ll never guess it but just like his brothers Spencer had seven hits at nationals.

Sydney’s Hills Red have won The 2024 Australian Little League Championships after winning two games on a hectic final day.

They defeated Adelaide Rays in the semi-finals and the Central Firebirds in the Gold Medal Day.

Here’s how the day unfolded. Watch the replay, free & around the world on Baseball+, or the highlights below.