Williamsport Overview

Each year, Needham Baseball & Softball (NB&S) seeks to field teams to participate in the Little League World Series tournament, often referred to as “Williamsport” in a nod to the town where the Little League World Series tournament is played each summer, South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

There are tournaments in three age categories: 12-year-olds; 11-year-olds; and 10-year-olds. Needham’s teams compete in the Massachusetts District 11 tournament, which is held at a handful of baseball complexes in neighboring towns beginning in late June/early July each year. There are a total of 16 districts in Massachusetts, and District 11 includes teams from Needham, Ashland, Canton, Dedham, Dover-Sherborn, Framingham, Hopkinton, Medfield, Norwood, Sharon, Westwood and Walpole. The winner of the District Tournament advances to the Sectional Tournament with the Sectional winners playing in the State Tournament.

Needham teams that have won Little League tournament championship banners:

2024 – Needham (District 11)
Needham American 10s (District 11)

2022 – Needham National 12s (District 11 )

2021 – Needham National 12s (District 11 and Section 3 Champion),
Needham National 10s (District 11)

2019 – Needham National 10s (District 11, Section 3 Champion)

2018 – Needham American 12s (District 11)
Needham National 11s (District 11)
Needham National 10s (District 11)

2017 – Needham National 10s (District 11)

2016 – Needham American 10s (District 11)

1993 – Needham West 12s (District 11)

1975 – Needham East 12s (District 11)

1973 – Needham West 12s (Mass. State Champion)

1968 – Needham West 12s (District 11)

1954 – Needham 12s (Mass. State Champion; earned invitation to Little League World
Series in South Williamsport, Pa.)

 

The 2024 Move to a Single Williamsport / Summer A Team:

Prior to 2024, NB&S had registration numbers requiring two Williamsport teams at each age level.

In 2024, NB&S’s registration numbers decreased to the point where NB&S – like every other District 11 town – is not required to have two teams.  As a result, NB&S will no longer field two Williamsport teams.  Instead, going forward, NB&S will select a single Williamsport team at 10U, 11U, and 12U levels, which team also will constitute the Summer A Team.   That Summer A / Williamsport team will play together all summer in the Williamsport tournament, a summer league and/or other summer tournaments(e.g., the Sandwich Summer Blast).

For more information on the Selection Process and timelines, please see the Summer Baseball page.