Nevada State Little League® Tournament Milestones

Nevada State Tournament Milestones

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The Nevada state tournament series structure has changed several times since the 1950s. Key events in the evolution of this structure include the following:

YEAR MILESTONE

1957 All Nevada leagues -- there are approximately twelve -- compete in a single district. The Nevada state champion competes in a divisional tournament against champions from other sparsely populated Western states for the right to advance to the Western Region tournament. In some years Nevada competes in a Northwest Divisional tournament, and in other years in a Southwest Divisional tournament.

1968 Little League baseball comes to Las Vegas as four leagues are formed. Las Vegas' Central, Optimist, and Paradise Valley Little League programs join Nellis Air Force Base in a newly-created District 2. The state tournament format is modified to incorporate a one-game playoff between the champions from District 1 (the entire state excluding Las Vegas) and District 2.

1971 The Nevada state champions advance directly to the Western Region Tournament for the first time as Little League expands the region tournament field from four to thirteen (later fourteen) teams. Since this time, the Nevada state champion has always advanced directly to the region tournament.

1981 The state tournament expands from two to three teams when District 3 (rural Nevada) is created as a spin-off of District 1 (Reno/Carson City area). Additionally, state officials switch the state tournament format from single- to double-elimination.

1999 The state tournament field grows to four teams as District 2 is split in half. Most leagues east of Interstate 15 remain in District 2, while leagues west of Interstate 15 are moved into the newly created District 4.

2001 Nevada is assigned to the West Region as part of Little League Baseball's expansion of the World Series from eight to sixteen participants.

2022 Nevada is assigned to the newly created Mountain Region as part of Little League Baseball's expansion of the World Series from sixteen to twenty participants.

Click here to return to the Nevada Little League tournament main menu.

YEAR	MILESTONE
1957	All Nevada leagues -- there are approximately twelve -- compete in a single district. The Nevada state champion competes in a divisional tournament against champions from other sparsely populated Western states for the right to advance to the Western Region tournament. In some years Nevada competes in a Northwest Divisional tournament, and in other years in a Southwest Divisional tournament.
1968	Little League baseball comes to Las Vegas as four leagues are formed. Las Vegas' Central, Optimist, and Paradise Valley Little League programs join Nellis Air Force Base in a newly-created District 2. The state tournament format is modified to incorporate a one-game playoff between the champions from District 1 (the entire state excluding Las Vegas) and District 2.
1971	The Nevada state champions advance directly to the Western Region Tournament for the first time as Little League expands the region tournament field from four to thirteen (later fourteen) teams. Since this time, the Nevada state champion has always advanced directly to the region tournament.
1981	The state tournament expands from two to three teams when District 3 (rural Nevada) is created as a spin-off of District 1 (Reno/Carson City area). Additionally, state officials switch the state tournament format from single- to double-elimination.
1999	The state tournament field grows to four teams as District 2 is split in half. Most leagues east of Interstate 15 remain in District 2, while leagues west of Interstate 15 are moved into the newly created District 4.
2001	Nevada is assigned to the West Region as part of Little League Baseball's expansion of the World Series from eight to sixteen participants.
2022	Nevada is assigned to the newly created Mountain Region as part of Little League Baseball's expansion of the World Series from sixteen to twenty participants.