Those teams have plenty of 13U players playing in 14U World Series because they didn’t bench their older kids. Some 2026 teams decided to play their 13U kids up with the 14U / 2025s to let them all play together, win or lose. Other teams decided they would bench their older kids and not let them play with their teammates. Some even created entirely new teams just to get enough 13U kids on a team. In any case, not all teams are pounding their chests about winning the WS before it even starts. They just want their kids to have fun and enjoy the experience of this special event. Yes, it’s more fun to win, but it’s also fun just to be there with your teammates. All of them.