Little League World Series 2012 Schedule: Day-by-Day Listings, TV Info & More

Thursday marks the beginning of one of the greatest traditions in all of youth sports: the Little League World Series.

From across the globe, the greatest 11- and 12-year-old baseball-playing adolescents descend on the birthplace of Little League Baseball, Williamsport, Pa., to battle for a chance to represent their country as the world's best team.

An August tradition since 1947, the LLWS is not only serves as every young baseball player's dream (yours truly included), but is sometimes even the world's first introduction to future Major League stars. Gary Sheffield, Colby Rasmus and Dwight Gooden were among those youngsters who made their first national television appearance as Little Leaguers.

This year's representatives all likely share their heroes' big league dreams and hope to make the most out of the trip.

Split into two divisions (United States and World), the Williamsport tournament ensures each year that there is both a homegrown and international flavor to each year's championship game.

Representing the United States this year are teams from Northern California (West), West Texas (Southwest), Oregon (Northwest), Nebraska (Midwest), New Jersey (East), Connecticut (New England), Tennessee (Southeast) and Indiana (Great Lakes).

The U.S. has been victors in six of the past seven World Series, including the 2011 champion from Huntington Beach, Ca., which beat Japan 2-1 in an exhilarating championship game.

Vying for the world title in hopes of knocking off the United States this year are teams from Japan (Japan), Curacao (Caribbean), Chinese Taipei (Asia-Pacific), Germany (Europe), Panama (Latin America), British Columbia (Canada), Uganda (Middle East-Africa) and Mexico (Mexico).

With so many regions and countries represented, the LLWS has become a yearly bastion of excitement in the dry sports month of August. With that in mind, the folks at ESPN/ABC have every game on its conglomerate of networks for your consumption.

How will you watch? That's up to you. But here's a day-by-day television guide for those hoping not to miss a minute of Little League action.

(Note: Listings thanks to ESPN and the official Little League website.)

Thursday Aug. 16 (All Times EDT)

Game No. 1: Japan vs. Caribbean, Volunteer Stadium, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

Game No. 2: West vs. New England, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 3 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game No. 3: Europe vs. Asia-Pacific, Volunteer Stadium, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game No. 4: Midwest vs. Southeast, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Game of the Day: Northern California (West) vs. Connecticut (New England)

Despite the West's reputation as a the defending champions and yearly favorite, usually boasting a collection of the best hitting and pitching youngsters in the world, this year's regional champions aren't exactly mashers.

Winners of their regional tournament by just a margin of 16 runs, the Californians will face a squad from Connecticut Thursday that was nothing short of dominant. The offshore oddsmakers seemingly aren't doing anything (via Beyond the Bets) for the LLWS this year, but if they did, it seems likely that these two squads would be among the favorites.

Friday, Aug. 17 (All Times EDT)

Game No. 5: Mexico vs. Canada, Volunteer Stadium, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

Game No. 6: Mid-Atlantic vs. Southwest, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 3 p.m. (ESPN)

Game No. 7: Latin America vs. Middle East-Africa, Volunteer Stadium, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game No. 8: Great Lakes vs. Northwest, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Game of the Day: Panama (Latin America) vs. Uganda (Middle East and Africa)

Though Uganda made the Little League World Series in 2011, its squad was unable to become Africa's first representative in Williamsport due to sloppy paperwork (via ESPN).

But this year Uganda took care of all the necessary paperwork in plenty of time and head to the U.S. proud to represent their continent.

Unfortunately, the Ugandans will have a rude welcome in Latin America's representative from Panama.

Each year Latin America is among the international favorites, and this year's Panamanian team is no different. Already experienced with three games decided by one run in its regional tournament run, Panama should not buckle in any close contests.

The first game just won't be one of those close calls.

It's a great story for Uganda, but don't expect it to be pretty.

Saturday, Aug. 18 (All Times EDT)

Game No. 9*: Loser Game No. 1 vs. Loser Game No. 3, Volunteer Stadium, Noon (ESPN)

Game No. 10*: Loser Game No. 2 vs. Loser Game 4, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 3 p.m. (ABC)

Game No. 11*: Loser Game No. 5 vs. Loser Game No. 7, Volunteer Stadium, 6 p.m. (ESPN)

Game No. 12*: Loser Game No. 6 vs. Loser Game No. 8, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

*Elimination Game

Sunday, Aug. 19 (All Times EDT)

Game No. 13: Winner Game No. 5 vs. Winner Game No. 7, Volunteer Stadium, Noon (ESPN2)

Game No. 14: Winner Game No. 2 vs. Winner Game No. 4, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 2 p.m. (ABC)

Game No. 15: Winner Game No. 6 vs. Winner Game No. 8, Volunteer Stadium, 5 p.m. (ESPN)

Game No. 16: Winner Game No. 1 vs. Winner Game No. 3, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Monday, Aug. 20 (All Times EDT)

Consolation: Loser Game No. 9 vs. Loser Game No. 10, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, Noon p.m. (ESPN2)

Game No. 17*: Winner Game No. 9 vs. Loser Game No. 13, Volunteer Stadium, 2 p.m. (ESPN)

Game No. 18*: Winner Game No. 12 vs. Loser Game No. 14, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 4 p.m. (ESPN)

Game No. 19*: Winner Game No. 11 vs. Loser Game No. 16, Volunteer Stadium, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game No. 20*: Winner Game No. 10 vs. Loser Game No. 15, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

*Elimination Game

Tuesday, Aug. 21 (All Times EDT)

Consolation: Loser Game No. 11 vs. Loser Game No. 12, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 1 p.m. (ESPN)

Game No. 21*: Winner Game No. 17 vs. Winner Game No. 19, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 4 p.m. (ESPN)

Game No. 22*: Winner Game No. 18 vs. Winner Game No. 20, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

*Elimination Game

Wednesday, Aug. 22 (All Times EDT)

Game No. 23: Winner Game No. 13 vs. Winner Game No. 16, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 4 p.m. (ESPN)

Game No. 24: Winner Game No. 14 vs. Winner Game No. 15, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 8 p.m. (ESPN)

Thursday, Aug. 23 (All Times EDT)

Game No. 25*: Winner Game No. 21 vs. Loser Game No. 23, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 4 p.m. (ESPN)

Game 26*: Winner Game No. 22 vs. Loser Game No. 24, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

*Elimination Game

Saturday, Aug. 25 (All Times EDT)

Game No. 27: International Championship, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 12:30 p.m. (ABC)

Game No. 28: United States Championship, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Sunday, Aug. 26 (All Times EDT)

Consolation: Loser Game No. 27 vs. Loser Game No. 28, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 11 a.m. (ESPN)

Championship: Winner Game No. 27 vs. Winner Game No. 28, Howard J. Lamade Stadium, 3 p.m. (ABC)