Little League World Series 2012: Complete TV Schedule for This Year's Action

The 66th Little League World Series will kick off in Williamsport, PA on Thursday, August 16. If you tune in from August 9-13 you can catch regional action as well.

Every year the best Little League players in the world make their way to Central Pennsylvania to play their hearts out on two pristine miniature baseball fields. They don't play for money, but these games mean more to them than anything else ever will.

If you have never treated yourself to baseball in all of its imperfect perfection, do yourself a favor and tune in this year.

Here's where you can catch all of this year's action: 

*TV schedule courtesy of ESPN.com

Thursday, August 16 - Double Elimination Games

Japan vs. Caribbean, Volunteer, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN and ESPN3.com)

West vs. New England, Lamade, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Europe vs. Asia Pacific, Volunteer, 5:00 p.m. (ESPN2 and ESPN3.com)

Midwest vs. Southeast, Lamade, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Friday, August 17 - Double Elimination Games

Mexico vs. Canada, Volunteer, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN and ESPN3.com)

Mid-Atlantic vs. Southwest, Lamade, 3:00 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Latin America vs. MEA, Volunteer, 5:00 p.m. (ESPN2 and ESPN3.com)

Great Lakes vs. Northwest, Lamade, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Saturday, August 18 - All Elimination Games

Loser of Game 1 vs. loser of Game 3, Volunteer, 12:00 p.m. (ESPN and ESPN3.com)

Loser of Game 2 vs. loser of Game 4, Lamade, 3:00 p.m. (ABC and ESPN 3D)

Loser of Game 5 vs. loser of Game 7, Volunteer, 6:00 p.m. (ESPN and ESPN3.com)

Loser of Game 6 vs. loser of Game 8, Lamade, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Sunday, August 19 - Double Elimination Games

Winner of Game 5 vs. winner of Game 7, Volunteer, 12:00 p.m. (ESPN and ESPN3.com)

Winner of Game 2 vs. winner of Game 4, Lamade, 2:00 p.m. (ABC and ESPN 3D)

Winner of Game 6 vs. winner of Game 8, Volunteer, 5:00 p.m. (ESPN and ESPN3.com)

Winner of Game 1 vs. winner of Game 3, Lamade, 7:00 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Monday, August 20 - All Elimination Games

Loser of Game 9 vs. loser of Game 10, Lamade, 12:00 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN3.com, ESPN3D)

Loser of Game 13 vs. winner of Game 9, Volunteer, 2:00 p.m. (ESPN and ESPN3.com)

Loser of Game 14 vs. winner of Game 12, Lamade, 4.00 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Loser of Game 16 vs. winner of Game 11, Volunteer, 6:00 p.m. (ESPN2 and ESPN3.com)

Loser of Game 15 vs. winner of Game 10, Lamade, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Tuesday, August 21 - All Elimination Games

Loser of Game 11 vs. loser of Game 12, Lamade, 1:00 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN3.com, and ESPN3D)

Winner of Game 17 vs. winner of Game 19, Lamade, 4:00 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Winner of Game 18 vs. winner of Game 20, Lamade, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Wednesday, August 22 - Double Elimination Games

Winner of Game 13 vs. winner of Game 16, Lamade, 4:00 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Winner of Game 14 vs. winner of Game 15, Lamade, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Thursday, August 23 - All Elimination Games

Winner of Game 21 vs. winner of Game 23, Lamade, 4:00 p.m. (ESPN, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Winner of Game 22 vs. winner of Game 24, Lamade, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

Saturday, August 25

International Championship, Lamade, 12:30 p.m. (ABC and ESPN 3D)

United States Championship, Lamade, 3:30 p.m. (ABC and ESPN 3D)

Sunday, August 26

Consolation 3rd Place Game, Lamade, 11:30 a.m. (ESPN, ESPN3.com, and ESPN 3D)

World Series Championship, Lamade, 3:00 p.m. (ABC and ESPN 3D)

In case you aren't already convinced, I'll give you two more reasons to tune in to ESPN's extensive coverage this summer.

Uganda's Underdog Squad

Everyone likes an underdog story, right? This year's Little League World Series will feature one surprise team according to ESPN.com: 

"

Little League International announced today that the State Department will issue visas to the members of the team from Lugazi, Uganda, that qualified for the 2012 Little League World Series by winning the Middle East and Africa Region.

"

I'm not talking about a "they're not good enough" underdog. This squad nearly missed this year's festivities for reasons beyond their talent level.

We will have to wait and see how competitive they will be. They'll debut against the Latin American squad on Friday, August 17. Latin American teams traditionally do very well in Williamsport, and this surprising squad could have their hands full.

Nonetheless, it will be exciting to watch these young players continue to beat the odds. They played well enough to earn their spot, and it's nice to see them get a chance to prove themselves.

Can California Defend Their Crown?

This has more to do with the regional action (see link above, or here), but California still has a chance to defend their crown from last year.

Huntington Beach, CA defeated Japan to win last year's trophy. That was California's second title in three years, and Petaluma, CA has a chance to repeat their success this year.

Of course it's still one step at a time. They still have to win in the West Regional semifinal on Friday, and then they must win again a day later on national television. It's not guarantee that they even advance to Saturday's final, but you need to watch them try.

The Little League World Series is all about tradition, and California is starting one of its own. Petaluma National Little League can add their chapter to that legacy this year, but they must make it out of their side of the United States first.