Japan beats Mexico for International championship at Little League World Series
August 27, 2011 | 11:29 am 00
Japan scored twice in the third inning and twice more in the fourth on the way to a 5-2 win over Mexico on Saturday in the International championship
game at the Little World Series in front of 10,425 at Lamade Stadium.
In Sunday’s final, Japan of the Hamamatsu Minami Little League of Hamamatsu City, will play the winner of Saturday’s U.S. championship game between
Ocean View Little League of Huntington Beach and the Montana team from Billings.
Japan, which had lost to Mexico in extra innings earlier in the tournament, scored first Saturday, putting up two runs in the top of the third inning.
That rally started with a leadoff infield single from shortstop Gaishi Iguchi off Mexico starting pitcher Jorge Jacobo.
Seiya Fujita followed with a double that scored Iguchi, and Fujita scored on an error on the throw to the plate. Japan had two more hits in the inning
but left the bases loaded.
Japan scored two more runs in the top of the fourth inning after Asuya Otsuka led off with a single and ended up on third base when the left fielder
let the ball get under his glove. After two outs, Kaito Suzuki scored Otsuka with a single to left. Suzuki then scored on an RBI double from Mitsuhiro
Uchida.
Mexico finally scored in the bottom of the fourth inning. Alonso Garcia led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a fielder's choice and
scored when pinch-hitter Victor Bejarano slapped a tricky ground ball that Japan’s third baseman Seiya Fujita couldn’t handle. It was ruled an error
and Garcia scored to make to cut Mexico's deficit to 4-1.
Japan added a run in the top of the fifth on a two-out RBI single from Asuya Otsuka.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Mexico got the one run back when Carlos Arellano led off with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, went to
third on a groundout by Daniel Guillen and scored on Jorge Jacobo’s hard-hit triple
But Mexico couldn’t get Jacobo across the plate so the game went to the sixth inning with Japan ahead 5-2.
In its final chance the Mexican team, the Seguro Social Little League from Mexicali, had a moment of hope when Alvaro Valdez beat out an infield
single with two outs and moved to second on a wild pitch. But Kenet Delgado, after working the count to 3 and 2, struck out looking to end the game.woody with a view - 8-27-2011 at 12:12 PM
first the women's world cup soccer, now LLWS! they need the mental lift after what happened in march.....
go japan!DENNIS - 8-27-2011 at 12:29 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
first the women's world cup soccer, now LLWS! they need the mental lift after what happened in march.....
go japan!
The big test is tomorrow. The game to determine who the play is starting...or started at noon today between Montana and Huntington Beach.
Go Beach Rats.BajaNomad - 8-27-2011 at 08:43 PM
Ocean View LL (Huntington Beach) v Japan tomorrow at 9am Pacific Time on ABC and/or ESPN.scouter - 8-27-2011 at 08:56 PM
my son's got a few friends on the HB team we are all excited for them.....DENNIS - 8-27-2011 at 09:14 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaNomad
Ocean View LL (Huntington Beach) v Japan tomorrow at 9am Pacific Time on ABC and/or ESPN.
Weather permitting, I suppose.BajaNomad - 8-28-2011 at 08:31 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaNomad
Ocean View LL (Huntington Beach) v Japan tomorrow at 9am Pacific Time on ABC and/or ESPN.
Weather permitting, I suppose.
I guess the weather in Williamsport is now expected to be okay... as they've moved the start time back to what was originally scheduled at
12pm Pacific Time (3pm ET).krafty - 8-28-2011 at 08:36 AM
So those kids were on the only plane that was allowed to fly during the storm? Or maybe a VERY FAST bus?krafty - 8-28-2011 at 12:40 PM
Did not realize all the playoffs were being played in Williamsport!Hook - 8-28-2011 at 04:26 PM
The team from California wins in for the second time in three years!
US wins it for the 6th time in 7 years, or something like that.DENNIS - 8-28-2011 at 04:38 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
The team from California wins in for the second time in three years!
US wins it for the 6th time in 7 years, or something like that.
I do believe you're right. I wonder what happened to Taiwan? They used to have a LL dynasty.
That's a good question, Dennis. I think the powers that be put in some kind of proof of age requirement. It was always suspected that Taiwan was
putting kids that were much older than the rest of the LLers.
