Curacao Routs Nevada to Win Little League World Series Championship

Championship Game Turning Points

Nevada capitalized first in the second inning when Maddox Bryan hit a two-run single to center field, giving the Mountain Region champions a 2-0 lead, as reported by News Tribune. Curacao answered in the third inning behind Shardijon De Lanoi’s two-run single to tie the score.

Curacao grabbed its first lead in the fourth inning when Jaymiell Martina hit a two-RBI double. The game broke open in the fifth inning after De Lanoi was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Juriensly De Windt followed by clearing the bases with a double to deep center field, stretching a 4-2 advantage into an 8-2 lead.

De Windt also started on the mound for Curacao, pitching the first three innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk. Relief pitchers Giendry Ryan and Steven Felix combined to shut down Nevada over the final three frames.

With the victory, Curacao claimed its first championship since 2004, a roster that notably featured future major leaguers Jurickson Profar and Jonathan Schoop, according to Australian News. To reach the title game, Curacao posted two wins against Japan in the International bracket, including a 4-0 shutout in the International championship game on Saturday.

Japan Defeats Ohio in Third-Place Game

In the third-place game preceding the championship, Tokyo’s Joto Little League from Japan defeated West Side Little League of Hamilton, Ohio, 3-2. Ayumu Hasegawa delivered a walk-off bunt down the first-base line with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to bring home the winning run.

Ohio, representing the Great Lakes Region, held a 2-0 lead into the sixth inning after Xander Kinkade doubled to right field in the fourth, driving in Josiah Infante and Bob Frazier. Starting pitcher Boone Treadway kept Japan scoreless for five innings and recorded five strikeouts before reaching his pitch limit with one out in the sixth.

Japan capitalized when Treadway departed, using an RBI single to halve the deficit before tying the game 2-2 later in the inning following an errant throw to third base by pitcher Bryson Williams. Hasegawa then beat out his clutch bunt to complete the three-run comeback. Tensei Yazawa earned the victory in relief of starter Takeru Yorozu.