In the first inning for Asia, the second hitter singled and advanced as far as third but no runs scored. USA managed runners at first and second in their half-inning thanks to two walks but no runs scored. In the second inning, the number two hitter reached again, this time due to a walk, but advanced no further than second as the next hitter tapped a ball off the plate and was tagged out by catcher Cody Walker and the next hitter struck out, the third strikeout for Carter.
The scoring began in the third inning when the number one hitter singled with one out. He advanced to second base on a ground-out and scored on a single. The lead didn't last for Asia. Kyle Carter hit a one-out single and reached second on a wild pitch. Mr. Clutch, Josh Lester, followed with a single but the center-fielder made a strong throw home and the catcher blocked the plate to tag out a sliding Carter who never made it through to the plate. But Cody Walker came to the plate and sent back a message to his father who had to return to Columbus. The message was a two-run homerun over the right field fence to give USA the lead, 2 to 1.
A rejuvenated Carter returned to the mound in the fourth inning and struck out the first two batters. The next hitter grounded out to Brady Hamilton at first base. The bottom of the fourth was three-up and three-down for USA. In the top of the fifth, Carter once again asserted his dominance by striking out all three batters. Again, the bottom half of the fifth was three-up and three-down for USA.
In the sixth, USA would have to put out the order starting with the number two hitter. The first hitter walked on four pitches. The number three hitter and pitching ace came to the plate next. When Carter struck him out, it was a huge relief for the team. The next hitter struck out on three pitches. Carter was one strike away from retiring the next hitter before an inside fast ball struck him on the arm. With runners at first and second, the next hitter hit a one-strike pitch to Josh Lester at second base who tagged the runner out to end the game. It was only fitting that Carter picked up his fourth win of the LLWS, Walker got the big home run, and Lester recorded the final put-out of the game. With the win, Carter became the only pitcher in LLWS history to win four games in one series.
Hats off to a great team from Japan. The game lived up to its billing as two great teams battled for the World Series title. Congratulations to the World Series Champions from Northern Little League in our very own Columbus, Georgia.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | ||
| Asia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| United States | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
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3: Lester single; Walker 2-run home run Pitching: Carter 6IP, 24 batters, 11K, 1 run, 3 hits. | ||||||||||
