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News / Sports

African country to make debut at Little League WS

The Columbian
Published: August 14, 2012, 5:00pm

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Uganda will be making history at the Little League World Series.

The Lugazi, Uganda team is the first squad from Africa to advance to the series in the 66-year history of youth baseball’s biggest tournament.

A separate team from Uganda did qualify last year, only to later be denied visas after the U.S. State Department said there were discrepancies over players’ ages and birth dates.

No such problems this time around. Third baseman Ronald Olaa, who is 11, says he’s mesmerized by the pristine fields at the World Series.

Uganda is one of eight international teams in the 16-team field.

The pint-sized sluggers from Kearney, Neb., are making history, too, in the U.S. bracket as the first team from Nebraska to make it to the series. The tournament starts Thursday.

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