Little League World Series (Great Lakes Region)

The Great Lakes Region is one of eight United States regions that currently sends teams to the Little League World Series, the largest youth baseball competition in the world. The region's participation in the LLWS dates back to 1957, when it was known as the Central Region. However, when the LLWS was expanded in 2001 from eight teams (four U.S. teams and four "International" teams from the rest of the world) to 16 teams (eight U.S. and eight International), the Central Region was split into the Great Lakes and Midwest Regions.

Great Lakes Region

Most recent season or competition: 2019 Little League World Series qualification
Formerly	Central Region (1957–2000)
Sport	Baseball
Founded	2000 (2000)
No. of teams	6
Country	United States
Most recent champion(s)	Bowling Green Eastern Little League, Bowling Green, Kentucky
Most titles	Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League, Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan (3) Bowling Green Eastern Little League, Bowling Green, Kentucky (3)
Official website	Little League Baseball & Softball Central Region Headquarters

The Great Lakes Region has a unique definition that does not correspond with the normally understood definition of the "Great Lakes" area, even when the context is restricted to the U.S. Although eight U.S. states (and the Canadian province of Ontario) border on the Great Lakes, only five of the U.S. states are in Little League's Great Lakes Region:

•  Illinois
•  Indiana
•  Michigan
•  Ohio
•  Wisconsin

One state that does not border any of the Great Lakes, and in fact has no territory within the Great Lakes watershed, is included in this region:

•  Kentucky

Two states that border on the Great Lakes, New York and Pennsylvania are part of the Mid-Atlantic region; New York will move to a newly created Metro Region in 2022. The remaining U.S. state that borders on the Great Lakes, Minnesota, is in the Midwest region. All of Canada, including Ontario, forms a single Little League region.

Following the 2021 LLWS, Wisconsin will be moved to the Midwest Region. This move coincides with a planned expansion of the LLWS from 16 to 20 teams. This expansion was originally scheduled to occur for 2021, but was delayed to 2022 due to COVID-19.[1]