As Little League Softball World Series Popularity Grows, So Too Does ESPN’s Production Presence in Greenville

After starting with a REMCO production, ESPN deploys full truck and crew onsite

ESPN is back in Greenville, NC, this week for the 51st Little League Softball World Series and has once again boosted its production complement to match the event’s growing exposure on its platforms. Besides the nine games streamed on ESPN+, 13 games are carried across ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC, including Sunday’s Championship Game airing on ABC for the third consecutive year and, for the first time ever, streaming live on Disney+.

With the Little League Softball World Series growing in popularity, ESPN has increased its production effort.

“Our goal is to capture the energy, enthusiasm, and pure joy that these girls exude with a robust technical complement and an incredible production and operations team,” says Meg Aronowitz, SVP, production, ESPN. “With the support of Little League and the city of Greenville, we have upgraded our presentation in every way to ensure we capture the incredible atmosphere and championship-level play.”

With expanded on-air presence in mind, ESPN has increased its onsite production presence as well. A dedicated mobile unit situated in the custom-built compound at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park, a robust camera complement, RF microphones, and plenty of other technology resources enhance both the quality and storytelling potential of ESPN’s coverage.

“Over the years, our coverage of the Little League Softball World Series has evolved significantly in both scope and complexity, reflecting the growing profile of the event,” says Catherine Chalfant, manager, remote operations, ESPN. “What began as a REMCO production has matured into a full onsite production. The tournament has grown in visibility and importance, and so has our commitment to elevating the coverage. Our transition to a full truck production is a statement of dedication to Little League and the audience. It allows us to deliver a broadcast that matches the intensity, emotion, and prestige of this event.”

ESPN continues to enlarge its camera complement at Stallings Stadium at Elm Street Park.

The camera arsenal deployed in Greenville includes six hard cameras (two of them super-slo-mos), a shallow–depth-of-field camera provided by Clay Loveless from Jaybird Jibs, and an RF handheld camera, which allows full mobility to capture spontaneous fan reactions and player celebrations. Fully Armed Productions is providing a jib for centerfield coverage, and ESPN has strategically placed numerous Marshall POV cameras to capture dugouts and bullpens.

This year, ESPN is also using RF mics on coaches and umpires to capture conversations, game-changing umpire calls, and emotions straight from the dugout in an effort to further connect the audience with the game.

“With more tools and perspectives at our disposal,” says Chalfant, “we’re better equipped to tell authentic, emotional, and visually rich stories that celebrate the athletes, coaches, and communities at the heart of the Little League Softball World Series. It’s not just about coverage; it’s about connection. And this year, we’re making that connection stronger than ever.”

NEP EN2 A and B units are on hand in the Greenville compound.

This year’s games are produced via NEP EN2 A and B mobile units. Unlike with traditional venues, ESPN’s operations and technical teams are tasked with building a broadcast compound from scratch on an active road at a public park with no permanent infrastructure.

“This includes not only broadcast infrastructure but crew-support structure as well, ensuring we have a place to eat and a place for our crew in the field to cool down between games,” says Chalfant. “This presents a massive technical and logistical challenge to ensure the proper infrastructure is in place on [the crew’s] arrival for 10 days onsite.”

In addition to NEP, other key technology partners are CP Communications for RF video and audio; NEP Specialty Capture for robotic, Dream Chip, and Marshall cameras; CMSI (Creative Mobile Solutions Inc.) for file-based workflows and remote postproduction needs; and Illumination Dynamics for power.

On top of all that, SportsCenter’s “50 States in 50 Days” series was onsite earlier in the week:

“The Little League Softball World Series is more than just another event on the calendar,” says Chalfant. “It’s a celebration of youth sports, community, and the future of the game. For our team, it’s a truly special assignment for several reasons. There’s an undeniable energy around this tournament. We’re not just covering games; we’re telling the stories of young athletes who are experiencing some of the most meaningful moments of their lives.”

Aronowitz and Chalfant are among 36 women on the crew on hand this year, in roles spanning production (along with Lead Producer Kerry Callahan) and operations (Ops Supervisor Abby Hurlbert, Ops Coordinator Renee Greenwood, and Ops Producers Colleen Cannon and Sue Keith).

“That representation matters, particularly at an event focused on female athletes,” says Chalfant. “It sends a powerful message to the next generation watching from home: you belong here — on the field, behind the camera, and in the control room. We are so proud of all that our team has accomplished this year in Little League.”

On the production side, Aronowitz; Nik Rud, newly named VP, sports production, diamond and college Olympic sports; and Coordinating Producer Scott Gustafson are leading the effort, with Callahan and Lead Director Mike Griffin at the front bench. Managing Producer Lori Mancini and Production Coordinators Robert Miller and Lexi Link play key roles in the production.

The 51st Little League Softball World Series Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods continues today on ESPN2 at 4 p.m. ET. Saturday’s semifinal matchups can be seen on ESPN and ESPN2, respectively, followed by the Championship Game on Sunday on ABC and streaming live on Disney+. Courtney Lyle will provide play-by-play alongside analysts Amanda Scarborough and Michele Smith and reporter Kris Budden.