PBS To Broadcast Little League Challenger Exhibition Aug. 25

On Saturday, Aug. 25, at 10:30 a.m., Rhode Island PBS will broadcast the 2012 Little League Challenger Exhibition Game live from Little League Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport, PA, and featuring the Rhode Island District 2 Challenger from Portsmouth, Rhode Island, and Southwest Forsyth Little League from Clemmons, North Carolina.

The Challenger Division was established in 1989 as a separate division of Little League that enables boys and girls ages 4 through 18 (or up to age 22 if still enrolled in high school) with developmental and physical challenges to enjoy the game of baseball. The two leagues sending their Challenger Division programs to the 2012 Little League Baseball World Series represent more than 30,000 Challenger players and 900 leagues worldwide.

The Little League Baseball World Series Challenger Exhibition Game has been a part of the Little League Baseball World Series schedule since 2001. The 2012 Challenger Exhibition Game will be part of the schedule on the final Saturday of the 66th Little League Baseball World Series that also features 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 proven to be an experience the participants and fans talk about for the rest of their lives.”

The Rhode Island District 2 program has 50 players participating in its program, now in its sixth season. Southwest Forsyth Little League has 40 players in its Challenger program, which started in 2006.

 Rhode Island PBS will re-broadcast the game on its second channel, Learn, on Sunday, August 26 at 3:30 P.M. and again on main channel Rhode Island PBS on Wednesday, August 29 at 5 A.M.

 WSBE is operated by the Rhode Island Public Telecommunications Authority, a public corporation established by Rhode Island General Laws 16-61-2. WSBE is a viewer-supported member of the PBS network of public broadcasting stations, and transmits on two channels: WSBE Rhode Island PBS transmits standard-definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) programming over the air on digital 36.1; Rhode Island cable channels are Cox 08 / 1008HD, Verizon 08 / 508HD, and Full Channel 08; in Massachusetts, Comcast 819HD; on satellite, DirecTV 36, and Dish Network 7776. WSBE Learn transmits over the air on digital 36.2; on Cox 808; Verizon 478; Full Channel 109; and Comcast 294 or 312. Committed to lifelong learning for 45 years, WSBE uses the power of commercial-free media to educate, engage, enrich, inspire, and entertain viewers of all ages in Rhode Island, southeastern Massachusetts, and eastern Connecticut. For more information about the programs and education services at WSBE, visit www.ripbs.org.