Vienna gets home field advantage as host of Virginia Little League baseball tournament

The Town of Vienna is about to become the center of Virginia’s Little League baseball world.

For the first time since 2004, Vienna Little League will host the Virginia State Majors Little League tournament, which will take place at Yeonas Park (1319 Ross Drive SW) from July 23-27.

VLL is working with the Town of Vienna and other partners to put on a parade, opening ceremonies, and lots of games to determine a state champion who will represent Virginia in the U.S. Southeast regional tournament, all leading up to the Little League Baseball World Series on Aug. 19.

Vienna Mayor Linda Colbert says getting to host the state championship tournament is “a real honor” not just for local players, but for the town as a whole.

“Our Vienna Little League has been hard at work for months organizing what I’m sure will be a class A event, and our town’s business community is sure to benefit, too, as it welcomes players, coaches and families,” Colbert said. “Vienna has many good family-friendly restaurants and businesses that are perfect for traveling families. I am looking forward to attending opening day and to watch our state’s exceptional teams compete.”

The tournament will feature 16 teams from around the state with Vienna National representing the Town of Vienna and District 4 after winning the district’s under-12 championship last week. The event is expected to bring 800 to 1,000 people from across the state, according to VLL.

The festivities will kick off this Thursday (July 22) with teams checking in, a Parade of Champions at 5:30 p.m., and opening ceremonies at 6:15 p.m.. Games will be Friday through next Tuesday with the champions being crowned on Tuesday (July 27) at 10 a.m.

“We are having a parade of champions prior to the opening ceremony,” VLL Board Member Lynn Jacquez said. “The teams will parade down Patrick Street, from the Cedar Shopping Center to Yeonas Park, where they will be greeted by the four Nationals Racing Presidents as they enter the park. And we’d love to have our neighbors and town citizens line the streets to applaud.”

The tournament is free for spectators and open to the public. There are sponsorship opportunities for businesses that want to support the event.

Community members can also participate as a Vienna ambassador, helping visiting teams find restaurants or things to do in town during their downtime. Anyone interested in being an ambassador can contact Vienna Little League at [email protected].

“Volunteer resource and support resources in the town of Vienna and then the Town of Vienna [government] itself is just an unbelievable youth sports supporter and someone that we can rely on and are relying on,” Jacquez said. “The fire department, the city staff, the police department, everybody is just stepping up, and wholeheartedly. And that’s Vienna, right? We are the town of champions!”

The baseball gods have looked favorably on Vienna this year.

In addition to Vienna National winning the Little League District 4 championship, James Madison High School’s baseball team earned its first state title since 2015 in June on a stellar outing by James Triantos, who was drafted 56th overall by the Chicago Cubs on July 12.

Photo via Vienna Little League/Facebook