The Philippines will be defending its Big League World Series Championship in a new venue this year – in Sussex County in Delaware.

This developed after the Williamsports-based executive committee of the Little League International Board of Directors approved relocating the World Series for girls softball aged 16-18 to Sussex County from long-time host Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Team Manila won the 2012 Big League World Series, ending the country’s 10 years of frustration representing the Asia-Pacific in the prestigious tournament.

The Manila Golden Girls, in fact, had ended bridesmaids in the last three stagings of the Big League World Series.   

The Lower Sussex Little League Complex in Sussex County has been host to the Senior League Softball World Series for 14-16 and starting with the 2013 season the Senior League Softball and Big League Softball World Series will be sharing the facility during the Aug. 4-10.

“The move to Delaware is a direct result of stellar leadership displayed by Senior League Softball World Series Director Martin Donovan and his tournament staff,” Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief Executive of Little League Baseball and Softball, said in a circular circulated to members of the Little League movement as well as media outfits.

“For the past 10 years, Lower Sussex has shown to be a wonderful host for the Senior League tournament.

To move a second World Series to Sussex County made the best sense for our organization and the Big League Softball World Series. We are comfortable and confident that the local tournament committee will transition well into operating concurrent tournaments.”