This story was originally published by Dead Spin
Luis Calo’s go-ahead two-run double highlighted a five-run sixth inning as Lake Mary, Fla., rallied past Boerne, Texas, 10-7 on Saturday to reach the Little League World Series championship in Williamsport, Pa.
Representing the Southeast Region, Florida will face Taiwan, representing the Asia-Pacific Region, in the championship game on Sunday following the third-place game between Texas and Venezuela.
Trailing 7-5 in the sixth, Florida began its comeback on Jacob Bibaud’s RBI single, scoring James Feliciano. Liam Morrisey then hit a sacrifice fly, driving in Garret Rohozen to make it 7-7.
Following Calo’s big hit, Morrissey – on at second base as a courtesy runner — stole third and scored on an error.
Texas jumped ahead early and took a 4-0 lead in the third on Doc Mogford’s two-run double past Bibaud.
Taiwan 4, Japan 1
Lai Cheng-Xi dazzled with 12 strikeouts across 5 1/3 dominant innings on Saturday to propel Taiwan past Venezuela in the International final.
Yu Chia-Jui had the lone RBI for the team from Taoyuan City, Taiwan, which also scored on a pair of wild pitches and a bases-loaded walk.
Chiu Wei-Che dashed home on Luis Yepez’s wild pitch in the first inning to give Taiwan a 1-0 lead. Taiwan loaded the bases in the third and scored two more runs on a walk and another wild pitch.
The 3-0 cushion was more than enough for Lai, who stymied Venezuela, the Latin America Region champion, to three hits and one walk. He was pulled in the sixth after allowing two runners to reach and was charged with the lone run on Santiago Bello’s sacrifice hit.
Chiu recorded the final two outs to complement his offensive totals of two walks and two runs scored.
–Field Level Media
