Managing Editor

brobinson@theeasleyprogress.com

EASLEY - Four names are already on the Big League Word Series dance card, with spots open for seven more participants.

Two teams had automatic bids to the tournament. One is the host team and defending champions, S.C. District One, managed by city of Easley Recreation Director Gregg Powell.

Puerto Rico also has an automatic bid. Last year, tournament officials approved inviting two Latin American teams to the BLWS. Puerto Rico and Mexico, the two largest Latin American Big League programs, were selected to alternate automatic bids.

Mexico had the automatic bid to the 2007 BLWS, while Puerto Rico had to win the Latin American regional to earn a spot. This year, Puerto Rico has the automatic spot.

Mexico competed in the Latin American Regional June 21-28 in Maracaibo, Venezuela, but finished pool play with a 2-4 record.

In the semi-finals of the Latin American Regional, the Dominican Republic defeated Region 1, Venezuela 1-0 and District 8, Venezuela topped Curacao 5-4.

The Dominican Republic team - Los Bravos de Pontezuela - defeated Venezuela 4-1 to earn a spot in the BLWS. This will be the first year a team from the Dominican Republic has participated in the BLWS since the tournament came to Easley in 2001.

The fourth team headed to the BLWS is Saipan (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), who defeated the Philippines 8-7 in the championship game.

Tuesday night in Greenville, S.C. District 6 and S.C. District 7 began a best of three series to determine which team will represent the state in the U.S. Southern Regional, set to be held July 18-21 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

District 6 features players from Greenville County and is managed by former Riverside High School coach Chris Bates. Last year District 6 won the state title, then went on to win the Southern Regional and earn a spot in the Big League World Series.

District 7 features players from Laurens and Spartanburg counties and is managed by Laurens High School coach Dale Nelson.

Joining the South Carolina representative in the Southern Regional will be a host team, as well as the state champions from North Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia and West Virginia.

Other upcoming regional tournaments include:

Canadian Regional - July 19-23 in Kanato, Ontario.

U.S. East Regional - July 18-23 in Dover, Del.

U.S. West Regional - July 17-22 in Bremerton, Wash.

U.S. Central Regional - July 18-22 in Wyoming, Mich.

U.S. Southwest - July 17-22 in Rushton, La.