Panama's Adam Villarreal (5) high fives Philadelphia Phillies Carlos Santana and Asdrubal Cabrera during player introductions of their game against Japan in an International pool play baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018. Japan won the game 4-2. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
The Associated Press
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) - The Chicago Cubs will face the Pittsburgh Pirates in next year's Little League Classic.
The game will be held at Bowman Field on Aug. 18, 2019. The Cubs and Pirates will attend Little League World Series games earlier in the day.
The matchup was announced Sunday night during the Mets-Phillies game in Williamsport. It will once again be part of ESPN's Sunday night schedule.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says the Little League Classic "has been a fun summer highlight for baseball the past two years."
Bowman Field, home of the Phillies' team in the Class A New York-Penn League, is about five miles from the site of the Little League World Series. It's the second-oldest minor league ballpark in the U.S.
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Pittsburgh Pirates pinch runner Kevin Newman, right, is tagged out by Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras as he tries to score from second on a double by Starling Martein the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, in Pittsburgh. The Pirates challenged the call, but it was held up on review. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
The Associated Press
Pittsburgh Pirates' Corey Dickerson (12) beats the throw to Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo as he reaches first on a bunt single, and went to second on the throwing error ion the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
The Associated Press