Team Hosts a Key Component in LLB World Series Experience

By Communications Division
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.
June 14, 2012

One of the key components in the Little League experience enjoyed by the 16 teams who earn their way to the Little League Baseball World Series is the role played by the team hosts or “uncles” and “aunts.”

Each team is assigned two team hosts who take on various responsibilities, from arranging uniform fittings, to getting teams to practice sites, to helping with the coordination of the many media activities. These volunteers spend every day of the World Series with their assigned team from breakfast until well into the night, providing guidance and assistance to the players, coaches and managers.

Many of the team hosts become friends with those they assist during the Series maintaining communication for many years after returning home.

The result of the random draw for their team assignment was completed today as part of the annual Little League Baseball World Series Luncheon. The pairings are listed below.

The 66th Little League Baseball World Series will be played Aug. 16-26.

2012 Little League Baseball World Series Team Host Assignments

• Europe - Mick Cioffi (36), Denny Logan (10)
• Northwest - Willy Weber (6), Dick Reitz (29)
• Southeast - Dennis Loner (14), Lynn Datres (12)
• Southwest - Scott Metzger (4), William Castle (24)
• New England - Bruce Sechrist (9), Peter Lupacchino (20)
• Asia-Pacific - Hess Wertz (14), Charles Snyder (14)
• Middle East and Africa - Gary Weaver (15), Frank Missigman (8)
• Caribbean - John Eastlake (14), Ron Wagner (12)
• Japan - Doug Alexander (8), Carol Zysset (12)
• Canada - Mike Knight (7), Mike Lundy (4)
• Mid-Atlantic - Marlin Cromley (14), Stan Helt, Sr. (8)
• Great Lakes - Ron Frick (10), Van Ransom (8)
• Latin America - Joe Girio (15),  Lee Miller (12)
• West - Larry Missigman (21), George Girio (25)
• Mexico - Jim Kriner (10), Bob Massetti (26)
• Midwest - Edward Weinhoffer (27), Thomas Rachael (14)
• Utility Hosts - Paul Fullmer (37), Carol Weinhoffer (7), Dan Ayers (12), Richard Smith (3), Jeff Tompkins (2), Paul Weaver (43).

The Little League Baseball World Series “uncles” and “aunts” gather for a picture following the annual World Series luncheon. During the luncheon, one member of each two-person “team” found out the regional championship squad they are paired with for the World Series in August after a random drawing.