Despite what happens in Sunday's World Championship Game, two teams can call themselves champions. Saturday's games determined the International champions and the US champions. The Little League World Series 2009 results from the Pool Championship games also determined which two teams will face off for the World Championship game on Sunday. The first game for Saturday was the International Championship game between Mexico and Chinese Taipei. Mexico had beaten Chinese Taipei in the first round of the tournament 3-2. That game was only for which team would be the first seed going into the semifinals. Saturday's game was for the International Championship and the chance to play in the World Championship game on Sunday.
The game got off to a slow start with a rain delay in the first inning. The two teams hung out in their dugouts during the 38 minute rain delay. After the rain delay Chinese Taipei got on to the board with two runs in the second. They also added two more in the third for a 4-0 lead.
Mexico came back in the fourth with two runs closing the game 4-2. Chinese Taipei added five more runs in the sixth inning bringing their lead to 9-2. Then the rain came again. This time the rain delay was almost an hour.
When play resumed, Mexico made a rally to come back. But the rally came up short when they were only able to score two runs in the sixth inning. Chinese Taipei won the game 9-4.
The downfall of Mexico during the game on Saturday was the errors they committed. Mexico had six errors. This was not something they were known for during their play in the 2009 Little League World Series.
The win in the International Championship game means that Chinese Taipei will meet the winner of the US Championship game that was played after yet another rain shower that occurred after the game between Mexico and Chinese Taipei ended.
Even though they had just lost the championship game, the players from Mexico was able to still have fun with the rain after the game. They turned the field tarps into Slip n' Slides and were the kids that they are.
Chinese Taipei will be in the World Championship game for the 21st time. They have won 17 of the 20 they have played in. Their last World Series win was in 1996 when they beat the US team from Cranston, RI.
The US Championship game was a rematch from round one between Chula Vista, California and San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio won that game 6-3 giving them the top seed going into the semifinals.
Due to the rain delays, the US Championship game started four hours later than scheduled. It did not take long for Chula Vista to 9-0 lead in the first inning. Pitcher Luke Ramirez put the first runs on the board for Chula Vista with a three run homer. Bulla Graft added another homer and Andy Rios had a grand slam all in the first inning.
Chula Vista continued to rely on the strength of their bats by adding three more runs in the third inning bringing their lead 12-0. In the fourth inning San Antonio made an attempt to rally back. Their rally fell short when they were only able to score two runs in the fourth and the game ended with a final score 12-2 because of the 10 run rule. This was the first time since 1997 when a Little League World Series US Championship game was ended due to the 10 run rule.
Chula Vista pitcher Luke Ramirez pitched the whole game. He struck out six batters and only allowed one hit the whole game.
Chula Vista will play Chinese Taipei for the World Series Championship on Sunday. This will be the first World Championship game appearance for a California team since Thousand Oaks lost to Curacao in 2004.
Chula Vista is the fourth San Diego little league team to reach the World Championship game in the Little League World Series history. With a win, Chula Vista would bring the first World Series title to the San Diego area since 1961.
ESPN Little League World Series coverage will continue with the World Championship game at 3 pm ET. Chula Vista and Chinese Taipei will have a special guest watching them play from the stands. Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to be in attendance for the game at the Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, PA.
Biden will be at the Little League World Series as part of him being enshrined into the Little League Hall of Excellence. Growing up about 100 miles east of Williamsport in Scranton, Biden played little league ball in the Green Ridge Little League.
Also being enshrined into the Little League Hall of Excellence is NY Ranger's center Chris Dury. Dury was the winning pitcher 20 years ago when Trumbull, Conn won the Little League World Series title.
No comments:
Post a Comment