This weekend it's the big league for a local Little League team.

Early Friday morning, the Division 2 Challenger League will be off to Williamsport, PA. to participate in the Little League World Series. The team has representation from Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Tiverton and Bristol.

The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League that enables boys and girls with developmental and physical challenges, ages 4-18, or up to age 22 if still enrolled in high school, to enjoy the game of baseball.

To get updates on this weekend's games, become a fan of Tiverton-Little Compton Patch on Facebook! We will be in communication with the coach and will post live updates as they come in. 

The exhibition game will be played this Saturday at Little League Volunteer Stadium, one of the two stadiums used for the Little League Baseball World Series, in South Williamsport, PA. The Challenger game will be part of the schedule on the final Saturday of the 66th Little League Baseball World Series that also will feature the International and U.S. championship games. The International and U.S. champions advance to the World Championship game on Sunday, Aug. 26.

“The Challenger Exhibition Game has become an integral part of the annual Little League Baseball World Series schedule, and has played an important role in the growth of the program,” Sam Ranck, Little League’s Director of the Challenger Division, said. “It has proved to be an experience the participants and fans will talk about for the rest of their lives.”

The Rhode Island District 2 program has 50 players participating in its program which is entering its sixth season.

“We are extremely excited and grateful to Sam Ranck, and Little League Baseball and Softball, for giving us this incredible opportunity,” said Bob Dyl, the Director of the Challenger Division in Rhode Island District 2. “This will be an experience that will live in the hearts and minds of these children and their parents forever. We also thank the Portsmouth Little League for their continued support.”

More information on Little League’s Challenger Division can be found on the Little League website, at: www.LittleLeagueChallenger.org; by contacting Mr. Ranck, Little League’s Director of the Challenger Division, at: Challenger@LittleLeague.org; or on Facebook, at: www.facebook.com/LittleLeagueChallenger.

Good Luck Division 2 Challengers! Cheer on the team in the comments section below!