Maine-Endwell returned to the Binghamton area of NY after a completing a ideal run that ended with a Little League World Series championship. He was unflappable for most of the afternoon, working the outside of the plate masterfully for 3 1/3 innings of no-hit ball before Jude Abbadessa broke through in the fourth.
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This had been an incredible summer for Maine-Endwell, which won the Mid-Atlantic Championship before going 4-0 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania to win the US title. Endwell became the first NY team in seven years to qualify for the World Series but would end a much longer title drought with a win.
Maine-Endwell’s early 2-0 lead was cut short by a big home run from Yoomin Lee in the fifth inning, keeping the crowd on edge as they watched the New Yorkers hang on. After combining for 17 runs in their last two games, New York’s pitching led the way to victory.
Minho Choi struck out with runners on first and second to end the game. The final score was 2-4.
See the video of the call below, posted to Twitter by the Maine-Endwell Little League team’s Twitter account.
The title is the first for the United States side since 2011, when Huntington Beach, California won.
When asked how he felt, Harlost said winning was “the best”. “I’m just proud of them, second in the United States and to go through what we went through, awesome”. South Korea beat Panama 7-2 earlier Saturday in the global final.
Ryan Harlost allowed one run during a complete game effort, striking out eight. Billy Dundon drove in two runs, and Jack Hopko and James Fellows each had an RBI. The Asia-Pacific Region champs won the global bracket.
Cho (1-0) has pitched five innings with no runs and no hits with 10 strikeouts and only one walk. NY recorded all three of their hits in that decisive two-run fourth inning.
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Carlos Gonzalez had three hits for the Latin American Region champions.
