WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - One doesn't have to drive very far into Williamsport to see that this community in the rolling, lush hills of central Pennsylvania is all about Little League baseball.

For more on the 2008 Little League World Series, click here.

For the next nine days, Williamsport is all about the Little League World Series, and for the first time, a South Dakota team - the Canyon Lake All-Stars of Rapid City - is one of 16 U.S. and international teams that are in the show.

In fact, the South Dakota team of 11- to 13-year-olds plays in the first game of the tournament, Friday, Aug. 15, at noon MDT against Tampa, Fla. The game will be televised by ESPN.

Lara Roetzel, mother of Canyon Lake player Cale Fierro, was impressed with the World Series complex, which she toured Thursday with many of the other Rapid City families.

"It's beautiful, and they're treating the boys so well," Lara said. "Cale says they're being treated like rock stars."

That "rock star" treatment included a long parade through the historic downtown district of Williamsport on a cool Thursday evening. Canyon Lake, wearing their red, white and blue Midwest Region champion uniforms, shared a flatbed semitrailer with the International team from Japan. Some members of the Japanese team threw candy to the cheering crowd that lined the parade route.

Canyon Lake coach Doug Simons said his team was a bit stunned by the atmosphere at first, but soon settled down.

"I think it was like that the first night we got here. We walked down and saw this big field with all the lights on, and they were just in awe then," Simons said.

"We got up the next morning and went to practice, and they seemed calm, having fun. We'll see tomorrow," he said, referring to the team's opening game Friday against the Southeast Region champion.

"They have a good chance against Florida," said Scott Roetzel, Cale Fierro's stepfather. "It all depends on how much they can put all this - the circus - behind them.

"They had a couple of practices today, and from what Cale said, they've been getting more intense, so I think they'll be OK."

Lara Roetzel is OK with whatever happens in the tournament.

"However it comes out, we'll be just so proud of those guys."

Canyon Lake All-Stars

Little League World Series schedule

Location: Howard J. Lamade Stadium, South Williamsport, Pa.

Game 1

Canyon Lake (Midwest) vs. Citrus Park Little League (Southeast)

Friday, Aug. 15, noon (ESPN)

Game 2

Canyon Lake (Midwest) vs. Shelton National Little League (New England)

Saturday, Aug. 16, 1:30 p.m. (ABC)

Game 3

Canyon Lake (Midwest) vs. Waipio Little League (West)

Monday, Aug. 18, 1 p.m. (ESPN2)