Mid-Atlantic Region champ NY, from Maine-Endwell near Binghamton, capped a 24-0 summer on Sunday, holding off Asia-Pacific champ South Korea 2-1 in the Little League World Series championship game in Lamade Stadium. Maine-Endwell also won the tournament’s sportsmanship award, which is voted on by the Little League’s workers and volunteers who interact with all the teams during their stay.
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Harlost’s winning run came after teammate Conner Rush produced the NY team’s only RBI in the game with a single. The ball deflected off the mitt of catcher Junseo Cho, far enough for Harlost to score easily from third to make it 2-0.
Harlost struck out eight and held South Korea to five hits in six innings. And Harlost scored on a passed ball, giving NY a 2-0 cushion. Yoomin Lee homered in the fifth for the team from Seoul. South Korea lines the third baseline and Endwell, N.Y., lines the first baseline during team introductions before the Little League World Series Championship baseball game at Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, .
Endwell snapped a five-year championship drought for US teams at Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
NY justly won the tournament and now have bragging rights for a year. “I also tip my hat to the coaching staff for their leadership and passion throughout the team’s ideal season”.
Jude Abbadessa, an MVP candidate had the tournament selected one, lined a one-out single to center.
Lefty pitcher Wontae Cho then sent down the NY team in order in the fifth to keep the pressure on heading into the final inning.
With the victory, it’s the first time since a US team has won the tournament since California in 2011. Harlost followed with a liner to the same spot and Rush plated the go-ahead run with a hit that fell in behind the shortstop.
In the second, right fielder James Fellows made a running grab at the warning track to rob Sangheon Park of an extra base hit.
A day earlier, the pitching of Mike Mancini and Abbadessa, along with a four-run fourth inning capped by Billy Dundon’s two-run single, lifted M-E to a 4-2 victory over Goodlettsville, Tenn., in the US final.
South Korea threatened in the final inning.
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Coach Scott Rush said the phrase to his players during the last meeting on the pitchers mound during the World Championship game.
