BANGOR, Maine — A new champion will be crowned at this year’s Senior League World Series after the final qualifying teams earned their berths Wednesday evening.
The Capitol Park Little League of San Antonio, Texas, defeated two-time defending SLWS champion West University Little League of Houston, Texas, twice Wednesday to capture the U.S. Southwest regional tournament.
Houston was undefeated in three games entering the championship round, but San Antonio topped the Texas East representatives 8-0 and 15-5 to avenge a 4-3 loss earlier in the tourney and win the double-elimination event.
That advances the Texas West champions to the SLWS that begins Sunday at Mansfield Stadium.
The Texans were one of five teams that advanced to this year’s weeklong SLWS by winning regional tournaments Wednesday and are now traveling to Bangor for Saturday’s opening ceremonies.
Also earning spots in the 10-team field on the final day of qualifying were Clifton, New Jersey (U.S. East), Clear Ridge Little League of Chicago, Illinois (U.S. Central), Dumfries-Triangle-Quantico Little League, Virginia (U.S. Southeast), and Kiwanis National Little League, Regina, Saskatchewan (Canada).
Those qualifiers will join host Bronco-Hermon (Maine District 3), Central East Maui Little League, Hawaii (U.S. West), Southern Mariners Little League, Australia (Asia-Pacific), Catalunya Little League, Spain (Europe-Africa) and Roberto Clemente Little League, Puerto Rico (Latin America) as contenders for the Senior League World Series championship.
The opening-day schedule for the modified double-elimination SLWS commences with Europe-Africa against the U.S. Central at 11 a.m., followed by U.S. Southeast-U.S. East at 2 p.m., Maine District 3-U.S. Southwest at 5 p.m. and Latin America-Canada at 8.
Two teams, Asia-Pacific and U.S. West, earned first-round byes and will open play Monday. Asia-Pacific will play the winner of the Europe-Africa and U.S. Central matchup at 10 a.m., with the U.S. West facing the U.S. Southeast-U.S. East winner at 2 p.m.
The tournament continues through the world championship game on Saturday, Aug. 6.
