Lare Set For LLWS Game #1 Duty

When Puerto Rico plays South Korea tomorrow afternoon at 1pm to kick off the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Hermon's Troy Lare will be the man in blue behind the plate calling balls and strikes.

The longtime Maine District #3 Little League umpire was selected earlier in the year to be one of the 16 umpires to work the iconic youth event. The game will be televised on ESPN.

Lare, who started umpiring in 1980 as a high schooler, is just the fifth Mainer to umpire the Williamsport World Series in the 71 year history of the event. Harry Dalton (1964), Dave Adams (1998), Chris Parker (2009) and Bill Finley (2015). In Little League circles, the Williamsport assignment is considered the top event to umpire.

Lare is a Bangor firefighter and he also umpires many high school and college games each year.

The state of Maine has had just three teams reach Williamsport. This year's state champion, Saco, lost in the New England Regional Tournament. Coventry, Rhode Island is the New England representative this year.

Here's the list of Maine teams to play at Williamsport...

2005 Westbrook All Stars: 13 years ago, the kids from Westbrook won the state championship and then went on to win the New England Regional in Bristol, Connecticut. The team lost its first two games in Williamsport before winning a consolation bracket game.

1971 Augusta East All Stars: 47 years ago, Augusta East took part in what was then an 8-team LLWS. Augusta got shut out by Spain 5-0, then scored a 1-0 win over Kentucky before losing to Puerto Rico.

1951 Portland Suburban All Stars: 67 years ago, the Portland Little Leaguers played in an 8-team single elimination LLWS and lost to Texas 3-1 after getting a first round bye.

NOTE: The Little League World Series features eight regional winners from the U.S. and nine international teams. The tournament runs through Sunday, August 26th.