SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT -- The Little League World Series officially starts Thursday, but the action at Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport actually started Monday.
Two teams played to see which one would get the final spot in the Little League World Series.
Teams from Kentucky and Michigan played Monday afternoon to decide the winner from the Great Lakes region.
The game started Sunday in Indianapolis, but it could not be finished because of bad weather, so Little League officials put both teams on buses and brought them to South Williamsport.
The competition was fierce as the two teams battled it out on the field.
While 15 of the 16 teams in the Little League World Series are already practicing in South Williamsport, the Great Lakes region had not finished its final yet.
"We thought, where else to play a suspended game then Lamade Stadium? Get these kids who had to go through a lot of stress the opportunity to play in Williamsport for their region championship as well," said Brian McClintock, Little League director of communications.
The kids from Bowling Green Eastern Little League and Essexville-Hampton Little League spent about nine hours on a bus and finished their game at Lamade Stadium. The team from Bowling Green, Kentucky was here last year.
"For the other 11 players, it's pretty neat just to be able to experience Lamade Stadium and to be up here," said Rick Kelley, Bowling Green Eastern manager.
"Millions of kids around the world never make it to this point, and we're able to give this experience to 13, 14 additional kids this year," McClintock said.
"That's what we tell the boys. It's like, ‘Hey, you're getting to play on the Little League field of dreams. Just let it all here and have fun and just go with it. What happens, happens. It's great that you got the opportunity to play,’" said Essexville-Hampton Little League coach Matt Irrer.
Before they decided on playing this game here, Little League officials may have had to decide the outcome through a coin toss, which they did not think would be fair.
The teams and Little League thought it would only be fair to determine the winner the old-fashioned way.
"If we do our job, I think we should come out on top. If we do what we do, stay confident," said Spencer Newman, Bowling Green Eastern Little League.
He was right. The team from Bowling Green, Kentucky won the game 6-1 and will again represent the Great Lakes region in the Little League World Series.
The early game made things a little tricky for grounds crews.
Usually, the grounds crew has Lamade Stadium to itself during the week leading up to the series. Head groundskeeper Rob Guthrie says there is usually a 10-day break between Little League's summer camp and the first game of the series.
"This year is an exception. We have an early game this year, so it cut a couple days off our prep time," Guthrie said.
While the grounds crew was not able to spend the day on the field, they were busy off the field.
"There's a lot of running around and shuffling, but fans are here, the music is playing, teams are going to play on the field, and it's going to be great," said McClintock.
Little League officials are looked at Monday’s game as a practice run for the main events starting up later this week.
“To make sure everything is plugged into the right place and we're ready to go," explained McClintock.
"It's good to start the series with. We have a couple of volunteers here now. Everybody's not in quite yet, but it's a good run through," added Guthrie.
As for the fans, they were excited to come early and watch some baseball.
"I'm really pumped for it. It will be amazing to come out here and watch some of the games,” said Hunter Bates of Shamokin. “We're out here every year.”
“We're kind of used to it because we've been here so long, but for people coming in, I'm sure it's really exciting," said Ray Engel of Williamsport.
The series officially starts Thursday.
