REMINISCING: Central Florida teams in the Little League World Series

LAKE MARY, Fla. – Over the next two weeks, the Lake Mary All-Stars will try do what no team from Florida has ever done before: win the Little League World Series.

In the 77-year history of the event, Florida won five United States Championships, but never the World Championship.

Two teams from Central Florida are among the Sunshine State’s five national champions. That’s an impressive percentage! Meanwhile, another team from the area came within two wins of the national finals.

As the Lake Mary All-Stars become Central Florida’s fourth team to make it to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, let’s do a little reminiscing and look back at our other hometown teams who earned that coveted trip to the Little League World Series.

1984

President: Ronald Reagan

#1 Movie At The US Box Office: Ghostbusters

On The Billboard Top 100 Chart: “Breakin…There’s No Stoppin’ Us” (Jerry And Ollie)

At The Little League World Series: Altamonte Springs

In 1984, the Little League World Series turned 37 years old and featured its first group from Central Florida. Led by future Boston Red Sox legend Jason Varitek, there was no stopping the 1984 Altamonte Springs Little League team through the United States competition of the venerated tournament in Williamsport.

At the time, only eight teams on the entire planet made the Little League World Series. Altamonte Springs was one of the four teams from the United States to earn the golden ticket.

The ballplayers from Central Florida played three games, defeating California 5-1, then Indiana 8-1 to earn the right to be called “National Champions.”

However, in the World Series Championship game, South Korea was too tough an out and defeated Altamonte Springs 6-2. As Central Florida’s first LLWS representative, Altamonte Springs was the team that showed the area’s baseball players to follow what was possible.

2001

President: George W. Bush

#1 Movie At The US Box Office: Harry Potter And The Sorcerer’s Stone

On The Billboard Top 100 Chart: “Where The Party At” (Jagged Edge)

At The Little League World Series: Apopka

It took 17 years for Central Florida baseball to produce a sequel to the 1984 Altamonte Springs storybook summer and to experience another trip to the Little League World Series. In 2001, Apopka was where the party at!

The Apopka Little League team was the toast of the town as it won the Southeast Region and punched its ticket to Williamsport, PA. By 2001, the field at the LLWS had expanded to 16 teams, with eight from the United States and eight from around the world.

The tournament’s format began with pool play and then elimination games. Apopka won two of its three games in pool play to advance to the quarterfinals. In those following games of survival, Apopka thrived, defeating Indiana 6-1 in the World Series quarterfinals, then storming past a team from Bronx, NY* 8-2, thanks in part to a Brandon Brewer 3-run home run.

That victory secured the title of national champion. Apopka then took the field at Williamsport’s Lamade Stadium in the Little League World Series championship game opposite a team from Tokyo, Japan with the eyes of the nation (and more) upon them.

President George W. Bush, a little leaguer himself at one time, was in attendance and threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Apopka scored first thanks to a Jeff Lovejoy RBI single.

However, Japan tied the game, leading to a climatic conclusion. With the Little League World Series championship game tied at 1 in the bottom of the sixth, Japan came through with an RBI single to walk off with the title. Regardless, there were many heroes during that August from Apopka, including Will Blankenship, who hit four home runs over the two weeks of the tournament, and also the parents and friends of Apopka who provided unwavering support.

2005

President: George W. Bush

#1 Movie At The US Box Office: Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith

On The Billboard Top 100 Chart: We Belong Together (Mariah Carey)

At The Little League World Series: Maitland

Four years after Apopka’s memorable run, it was time for Episode III: Central Florida In The Little League World Series.

In 2005, the Maitland Little Leaguers headed to the baseball galaxy far, far away in Williamsport, PA. Maitland was a star-studded team in the dugout and on the field. Former Major League Baseball players Dante Bichette and Mike Stanley were coaches of the team.

Future Major League Baseball player Max Moroff was on the team. Maitland came out swinging, defeating its first pool play opponent Iowa 7-3, and then its next pool play opponent Pennsylvania 3-1.

Despite a 10-0 loss to Hawaii in its pool play finale, Maitland had done enough to advance to the elimination round. However, California eliminated the team from Orange County, FL 6-2 in the quarterfinals. Hawaii went on to win the Little League World Series championship.

EXTRA, EXTRA!

California Dreamin’: California leads the United States with the most LLWS championships with 8, including 2023 champion El Segundo.

Terrific Taiwan: For decades, Taiwan was the team to beat in Williamsport. Its 17 world championships are second to only the United States’ 39. Taiwan won consecutive titles from 1971-1974, 1977-1981, and 1986-88.

A Bronx Tale*: In 2001, pitching sensation Danny Almonte of the Bronx, NY team was the talk of Williamsport. This after he threw a perfect game in his first LLWS start. It happened to be against Apopka. However, Almonte and the Bronx went from famous to infamous after it was found that Almonte was 14-years-old, two years older than the age the LLWS allows. All of the Bronx’s results were forfeited.

Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: