Little League World Series: Amid Eclipse, Jackson's Holbrook Takes On California

WILLIAMSPORT, PA — When the all-stars from Holbrook Little League take the field Monday to square off against the team from California in a Little League World Series elimination game, they will be doing so amid the solar eclipse.

The team from Jackson is scheduled to square off with the West Region champions from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, at 3 p.m. at Lamade Stadium. That's about 20 minutes after Monday's solar eclipse is expected to reach its peak, about 2:40 p.m. with the sun 75 percent covered and looking like the crescent moon, according to the eclipse simulation calculator on the Vox website.

Though the peak of it will be past by the time the first pitch occurs at roughly 3:05 p.m. (the first few minutes are usually taken up by team introductions on the ESPN broadcast), the eclipse will still have about 50 remaining. (Get more updates and news from the Patch delivered directly to your inbox. Click here to sign up for breaking news alerts and newsletters.)

Little League World Series officials are taking measures to work to ensure no one — from the players and coaches to the fans and volunteers — suffers eye damage during the eclipse, which begins about 1:16 p.m., during the International bracket elimination game between South Korea and Mexico.

Fans attending the World Series games during the eclipse will be given free certified safe-viewing glasses, and signs have been posted at the complex warning people to not look directly at the sun without the protective glasses during the eclipse, according to a report by KTRE.com.

For the players, however, it's a bit more tricky.

Kevin Fountain, director of media relations for the Little League World Series, said all players are being given the certified safe-viewing glasses as well.

"However, they will not be worn on the field by those participating in the games," Fountain said. "Little League will work directly with participating players, coaches, managers, and umpires to educate on the effects of looking directly at the sun during an eclipse."

Little League officials also contacted specialists who said as long as the players don't stare directly at the sun for a long period, they should be fine, according to a report by WNEP.com.

Solar eclipse glasses are designed to block out all but the most bright light, which would leave players unable to see to see what's happening on the field.

Holbrook, the Mid-Atlantic champions, rebounded from a 7-6 loss to New England champion Connecticut on Thursday to rout Great Lakes champion Michigan 15-5 in four innings on Saturday.

California, the West champion, opened its Little League World Series campaign with a 9-0 victory over Northwest champion Washington on Friday, but fell to Southeast champion North Carolina 16-0 on Sunday. The winner advances to Tuesday's 7:30 p.m. elimination game against the winner between Washington and Connecticut, who play at 8 p.m. Monday. The Holbrook-California loser goes into the consolation bracket.

Photo via Holbrook Little League