Little League is on the up and up in Loudoun County, and not just on the baseball diamond. This month, Loudoun will host the boys 9 and 10 state tournament, but next summer, Little League will bring the 2009 majors tournament (11 and 12) to the area. And with the 2011 majors baseball tourney slated for Loudoun as well, is it time to go with a new county slogan? "Little league and lattes, that's what Loudoun does!"

Here's a press release with the formal announcement from Loudounsoftball.org.

The Virginia Little League Girls Softball State Championship is coming to Loudoun County in July, 2009 according to LaMott Smith, District Administrator of District 16, State of Virginia Little League.

“Loudoun County has been asked by the State Little League organization to host the 2009 Majors tournament (11 and 12 year old players). With the advent of our new softball league, Loudoun Girls Little League Softball, we informed the state that we would be thrilled to host the event and showcase both Loudoun County and our new league. We’re hosting the Boys 9/10 year old State Tournament this July (2008) and are scheduled to host the Boys Majors State Tournament in July, 2011, so why wouldn’t we be interested in hosting the Girls Softball tournament in 2009,” stated District Administrator Smith. “Little League has been a favored pastime here in Loudoun for nearly 50 years. We’ve hosted the Boys State’s Majors in 1986, so we’re battled-tested. Besides, there are few quality baseball/softball facilities in the State of Virginia like what we have in Loudoun County – especially facilities like Freedom Park in Leesburg,” commented Smith.

A State Little League Tournament is generally held over a 5-to-7 day period. This year’s Boys 9/10 State Tournament will be held at Freedom Park in Leesburg starting on Friday, July 18th. A total of 16 teams, one from each District in Virginia, will meet to crown a champion. For the Girls Majors tournament in 2009, the winner from the 16 team tournament will advance to a Regional tournament where that winner advances to the Girls Majors World Series. The Loudoun Girls Little League Softball program will automatically place a team at the State Tournament, so rising 11 and 12 year olds have a prized opportunity to play for a State Championship in their own backyard.

“We’re excited about hosting this year’s Boys 9/10 and equally excited about hosting next year’s Girls 11/12 tournaments. I hope that baseball and softball enthusiasts will come out and see these teams fight it out for best in the state honors,” added Smith.