EASLEY — After months of anticipation and behind-the-scenes work by dozens of volunteers, the 2010 Big League World Series starts this afternoon with two games beginning 4 p.m.

During the next eight days 25 baseball games will be played at the J.B. “Red” Owens Recreation Complex to determine the best 15-18-year old baseball team in America.

South Carolina will have two representatives in the 11-team tournament. S.C. District One, with players from Pickens, Oconee and Anderson counties, will return as the host team for the tournament. South Carolina District 7, with players from Greenville County, will be the U.S. Southeast representative for the third time in four years.

Other teams familiar with Easley will also be a part of the lineup.

Rushton, La., returns for the fifth straight year as the U.S. Southwest representative.

Also returning from last year’s tournament are California District 13 from Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Illinois District 15 from Chicago, Ill.

Thousand Oaks has been the U.S. West representatives five of the past six years, and six times since 2003. The team won the 2006 Big League World Series Championship and was the U.S. representative in the 2009 championship game.

Chicago is making its fourth appearance in the Big League World Series since 2003.

Nova Scotia returns as the Canadian champions.

New Jersey District 18 will be the U.S. East representative for the second time in three years. The New Jersey team came close to winning the 2009 U.S. East Regional, losing two straight from the winner’s bracket in the finals of the tournament.

Puerto Rico receives an automatic bid to the Big League World Series this year. Puerto Rico and Mexico alternate years in receiving automatic bids as the second Latin American team.

Panama District 2 makes its first visit to the Big League World Series since 2006 at the Latin American representative.

The Netherlands returns as the Europe-Mediterranean-Asia champions for the first time since 2004.

The Philippines will make its first appearance as the Asia-Pacific champions since 2002.

Wednesday, July 28

4 p.m. EMEA vs. Latin America Field One

U.S. Central vs. U.S. East Field Three

7:30 p.m. S.C. District One vs. U.S. West Field One

Asia-Pacific vs. Puerto Rico Field Three

Thursday, July 29

4 p.m. U.S. West vs. U.S. Southeast Field Three

7:30 p.m. U.S. Central vs. U.S. Southwest Field One

Latin America vs. Canada Field Three

Friday, July 30

9 a.m. U.S. West vs. U.S. Central Field One

4 p.m. Latin America vs. Puerto Rico Field One

Canada vs. EMEA Field Three

7:30 p.m. U.S. East vs. U.S. Southeast Field One

U.S. Southwest vs. S.C. District One Field Three

Saturday, July 31

9 a.m. Puerto Rico vs. Canada Field One

11:30 a.m. Asia-Pacific vs. EMEA Field One

2 p.m. U.S. Southwest vs. U.S. East Field One

6 p.m. Parade of Teams Field One

7:30 p.m. S.C. District One vs. U.S. Southeast Field One

Sunday, Aug. 1

2:30 p.m. U.S. East vs. S.C. District One Field One

5 p.m. Asia-Pacific vs. Latin America Field One

7:30 p.m. Puerto Rico vs. EMEA Field One

Monday, Aug. 2

9 a.m. Canada vs. Asia-Pacific Field One

4 p.m. U.S. Central vs. U.S. Southeast Field One

7:30 p.m. U.S. West vs. U.S. Southwest Field One

Tuesday, Aug. 2

4 p.m. International Semi-Final Field One

7:30 p.m. United States Semi-Final Field One

Wednesday, Aug. 3

8 p.m. Championship Game Field One

U.S. Winner vs. International Winner