Curacao squad will defend title Orono-Veazie, Guam have also earned spots

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BANGOR – Preparations are under way and the 10-team field gradually is being filled for the 2003 Senior League Baseball World Series to be held at Mansfield Stadium Aug. 10-16.

Three teams already have qualified for the tournament, which features two pools of five teams each. The top two teams in each pool advance to the semifinals Aug. 15, followed by the world championship game at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16.

Defending world champion Curacao will return to Bangor in an attempt to win its second straight title. The Senior League team from the Pablo Little League of Williamstad, Curacao, won the Latin America championship by defeating Aruba 5-4 on July 26. Curacao went 5-1 in the Latin America tournament, with four of the wins by shutout.

Representing Asia-Pacific in the Senior League World Series will be Guam, which defeated the Phillippines 12-11 on July 19 to win its regional.

The third team to clinch a berth in the field is Orono-Veazie, which will represent host District 3 of Maine in the event.

Teams representing Canada and Europe and four more U.S. entries representing the North, South, East, and West will be determined between Aug. 2-7.

Group field days available

The Senior League World Series committee is inviting local youth groups and senior citizen groups to plan a field day at Mansfield Stadium during any of the pool play weekdays from Aug. 11 through Aug. 15.

The concession stand will be open for lunches and snacks for all games, but groups are welcome to bring brown-bag lunches to enjoy at the park adjacent to the stadium.

There also is a souvenir booth that has on sale such items as game programs, T-shirts, and other tournament items. Usually players from participating teams will gather under the big top after their games for autographs and pictures.

Free admission is offered to the groups, but such group reservations need to be made prior to the week of the World Series, and groups will be admitted by reservation only. For more information on the Senior League World Series field day opportunities, call 942-6557.

MDI trips a baseball respite

One highlight for the participating teams in the Senior League World Series will be a day trip to Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park.

Two teams will trek each day to the Acadia area, where they can take a break from baseball and enjoy such activities as miniature golf, water slides, a sightseeing trip to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, and, of course, a lobster dinner.

The day trips are being organized by Jo Swanson-Brown of Trenton, the tournament’s coordinator of social activities.

Senior Little League World Series

Tournament Schedule

At Mansfield Stadium, Bangor

Pool A

Canada, Europe, Maine, South West

Pool B

Asia-Pacific, Central, East, Latin

America, Southwest

Sunday, Aug. 10

East vs. Central, 1 p.m.

South vs. West, 3:30 p.m.

Southwest vs. Asia-Pacific, 6 p.m.

Canada vs. Maine, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 11

West vs. Europe, 10 a.m.

Southwest vs. Latin America, 1 p.m.

Canada vs. South, 5 p.m.

Asia-Pacific vs. East, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 12

Central vs. Latin America, 10 a.m.

Europe vs. Canada, 1 p.m.

East vs. Southwest, 5 p.m.

Maine vs. South, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 13

West vs. Canada, 10 a.m.

Latin America vs. Asia-Pacific, 1 p.m.

Europe vs. Maine, 5 p.m.

Central vs. Southwest, 8 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 14

South vs. Europe, 10 a.m.

Asia-Pacific vs. Central, 1 p.m.

Maine vs. West, 5 p.m.

Latin America vs. East, 8 p.m.

Friday, August 15

Pool B No. 2 vs. Pool A No. 1, noon

Pool A No. 2 vs. Pool B No. 1, 3 p.m.

Saturday, August 16

Championship, 1 p.m.