The end of August for many kids means the end of summer and school is right around the corner. The few who get to experience the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., know the end of August means the biggest Little League Championship Series in America.

Not only do Little Leaguers from America get a chance to play teams from Japan, Canada and Mexico just to name a few, they also get the opportunity to play in the spotlight.

So for the first edition of the 2013-2014 Hot Corner series Ryan and Bryan are going to take a step back from debating on a topic and instead they will discuss the United States and international teams that were lucky enough to participate.

Ryan:
The Little League World Series is the big stage for players 11 to 13 years old. Since the start of the series in 1947, players have been getting the chance to play on arguably the best fields in the country and having their games televised on ESPN which is something that many youngsters never get the chance to do and those who do never forget it.

When it comes to the American teams there are eight teams, among those teams are the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New England, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest and West.When game time comes you have the kids who are going to perform at the highest level and receive a lot of TV time.

Such as West Region’s Micah Pietila-Wiggs, known mainly for his golden locks but was also a workhorse on the diamond. Pietila-Wiggs posted a .667 batting average throughout five games in the championship series.

Another big name for the United States pool was Wiggs’ teammate Grant Holman.

Holman threw a seven-inning no-hitter against the team from Great Lakes. Holman is the first pitcher in the Little League World Series to throw an extra-inning no hitter, it was an extra-inning no-hitter because Little League only plays six innings of baseball.

Although every player wants to win and be the highlight of the tournament they all show the highest level of sportsmanship in any sport, the big leagues included.

If a player hits a home run the infielders will give the base runner a high five. If a batter is hit by a pitch the pitcher will go shake his hand and make sure he is ok. Even though these kids are only 11, 12 or 13 years old they know baseball is just a game; they play for the love of the game.

The Little League World Series is something that will continue to be played for many years to come. It is something that many people enjoy watching. It is an event that brings people from all over the world together in a little town called Williamsport, Pa. The Little League World is a great event and the support will continue to grow, just like the little leaguers themselves.

Bryan:
The Little League World Series is a staple for Little Leaguers not only in America, but all across the world. Even though there are differences in language, culture and values between some of the teams that take the field in Williamsport, Pa. the game brings the kids together, and makes it seem as though there is no difference at all.

It is always fun to see all the different regions and countries that are represented throughout the series, and it is always interesting to see the different styles in play during the game.

For this Little League World Series, the team from Musashi Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan faced off against Chula Vista, Calif. Even though the two teams are from different parts of the world, there was a sense of respect between the two teams and there was no lack of sportsmanship.

In the end, the team from Japan came back to win the game. In the history of the Little League World Series, Japan has been crowned champion nine times, including wins in 2010, 2012 and now 2013.

At the end of the long stretch for all the little leaguers who were involved in the series, the end of the championship signifies not only the end of the season, but also the end of the summer. Many of the kids will go on to play in fall leagues and do indoor drills, but nothing will ever be able to top the experience that was gained and the connections that were made with the other teams that participated in the Little League World Series.

These connections and experiences reach not just for the teams in America, but the international teams that make the trip will return home with the same experiences along with an abundance of memories they will hold onto for a lifetime. All of this is due to the fact that all the kids love the game of baseball, played hard, and earned their spot in Williamsport.