After 34 Little League World Series games, the initial field of 20 teams representing the United States and International teams has been narrowed down to the top two teams competing for the championship title on Sunday.
The action kicked off with the third-place game between Venezuela and Texas at Lamade Stadium, setting the stage for the main event. Venezuela managed to take down Texas 4-3.
The Little League World Series Championship Game followed, featuring the undefeated Chinese Taipei, who showcased their prowess all tournament, and will play against Florida, who enters the game 6-1 in the tournament.
A pitcher's duel ensued as only one run was scored heading into the sixth inning, but in classic Florida fashion, the team from Lake Mary would come from behind at the last second to push the game to extras. In the eighth, a defensive miscue for Chinese Taipei would wind up winning the game for Florida. 2-1, the final.
Here's everything that happened in today's LLWS action.
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It was a wild championship game at the 2024 Little League World Series. Lake Mary, Florida needed to win four elimination games and come from behind in both the semifinals and finals to secure the championship, but thanks to a perfect bunt and a defensive miscue, they won it all. Here's the bunt that won Florida their first LLWS title.
With a runner starting the inning at second base, Florida opted to sac bunt the runner to third. However, miscommunication on Chinese Taipei's end would have the pitcher throwing the ball to first base when nobody was there to cover. The ball ended up in right field, and the runner from second was able to score easily. It was a wild finish to an insane LLWS final.
Florida keeps the U.S. streak of six straight champions intact. 2-1 the final over Chinese Taipei.
With two outs and a runner on second, Zhuang Jie-En tattoeed a ball to deep left field, but Jacob Bibaub was able to snag it at the warning track to keep the game tied at 1 heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Another inning, another chance to end the game for Florida. Despite getting runners to second and third thanks to a double from Chikodroff, Latham Norton would strike out to end the inning, letting another chance for Florida to win go by.
Taipei threatened early in the seventh, so much so that the team even considered removing pitcher Latham Norton from the game. Norton would get out of the inning unscathed though. In fact, after allowing two baserunners, Norton would secure each of the next two outs without allowing either baserunner to advance. Florida needs just one run to win, going into the bottom of the seventh.
After a leadoff HBP put Chase Anderson on base, Chiu Wei-Che was able to get JJ Feliciano to fly out to center, and then got Garrett Rohozen to strike out on a controversial check swing call.
After a walk to Landon Bono, the game came down to DJ Mieses, who'd become well-known in Williamsport for doing the Juan Soto shuffle at the plate. Mieses would work a 2-0 count, and then Mieses would be bloop a single to left center. Anderson would score from second, and the ball would go to third, where Bono would slide in safely. Mieses would reach second as well.
The next man up was Jacob Bibaub, who led the Florida team in hits coming into the game with eight. Unfortunately for Florida, Bibaub would ground out to third, stranding both runners. But after innings of knocking on the door, Florida finally broke through and got on the board at the last second.
We're headed to extras tied at 1.
After a terrific fifth, Florida's Latham Norton gave his offense one more opportunity to score some runs down just one. Norton went three-up, three-down in the top of the sixth. Florida has just three outs to secure at least one run.
Florida had managed at least two baserunners or a runner on third in each of the previous four innings, but the fifth was different. Taipei changed pitchers, opting for Chiu Wei-Che, who did surrender a hit, but kept that runner from advancing to third, only allowing him to reach scoring position due to a rare pass ball. After five innings, Taipei still leads 1-0. It's been the same score since the top of the first.
After four strong innings from Jacob Bibaub, Chinese Taipei finally started to get some offense going against him in the fifth, getting runners to second and third with only one out.
Norton came in and surrendered a walk, loading the bases. He'd get the next Chinese Taipei hitter to pop out to shallow left, and with the game on the line Norton would get Lin Chun-Yi to fly out to Morrissey in center. It remains 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
Florida has been knocking on the scoreboard every inning, and the fourth was no different. Florida got center fielder Liam Morrissey to third base with two outs. Luis Calo drilled a line drive to right field, but right to the Taipei right fielder. The bottom of the fourth was the first inning where Florida failed to get two baserunners, but it was the third straight inning they'd found a runner at third base only to come away scoreless.
With two innings left to play, it's 1-0 Chinese Taipei.
During the first inning, Florida's head coach told his pitcher Jacob Bibaub just to throw strikes and let his defense make plays. They've done that so far. The top of the fourth inning came to a close after shortstop Chase Anderson made a sliding grab and nice throw to first. That's ten straight outs for Bibaub, but Florida still trails 1-0.
Florida has mustered at least two baserunners in each of the first three innings, but after Landon Bono, the 2024 Little League Home Run Derby champ grounded out to first with runners on second and third, Florida is still scoreless. Despite hits from Chase Anderson and JJ Feliciano, Florida still has a goose egg on the board. After three, it's 1-0 Chinese Taipei.
Since the first, Florida's Jacob Bibaub has gone six-up, six-down to keep Florida in this game. Now, it's the offense's turn to help him out.
Florida seemed prime to score their first run of the game in the bottom of the second. Florida had the bases loaded with no outs with tournament hero Teraj Alexander up to the plate. Alexander hit a bouncer to third, where Taipei's third baseman Yu Teng-Hao not only stepped on third, but was able to get the runner on third before he reached home as well.
Although Florida was able to load the bases yet again before the end of the inning, Zhi-Kai was able to strike out Florida's Lathan Norton to leave them loaded. After two, it's still 1-0 Chinese Taipei.
After surrendering the first run of the game in the first, Jacob Bibaub bounced back for a terrific second inning, going three-up, three-down. While he did need a solid play in right from Luis Calo to end the inning, it was still a tremendous bounce back for Bibaub who sits at 40 pitches through two frames.
After two quick outs to start the bottom of the first, Florida started to get something going, as Taipei starter Ciou Zhi-Kai walked each of the next two batters. DJ Mieses came to the plate with an opportunity to tie the game up. Mieses has been one of Florida's best hitters throughout the tournament. Unfortunately, Zhi-Kai's curveball seems to be on point today. He was getting swings and misses left and right, and that's what happened to Mieses as well.
Florida went by quietly. After one inning, it's 1-0 Chinese Taipei.
Florida pitcher Jacob Bibaub is having a tough time with his control early on. Chinese Taipei started the game off with two straight walks, rarely taking the bat off their shoulders. After the walks, Taipei opted for a sac bunt to put runners on second and third with no outs.
Although Florida would secure a second out, a base hit from Hu Yen-Chun off the glove of Florida's third baseman would drive in the first run of the game. After the top of the first, Chinese Taipei leads 1-0.
Prior to their loss against Florida in the U.S. Championship, Burney, TX was arguably the best team in the tournament. They hadn't lost a single game all tourney long, but unfortunately, their loss against Florida took them out of the running for the 2024 LLWS title. Given that the LLWS is a double-elimination tournament, that begs the question: "Why didn't Texas get another chance?" After all, this was the same Texas team that beat Florida earlier in the tournament. Why don't they get the same chance that Florida got?
It's an unfortunate circumstance, but the 2024 LLWS is not a true double-elimination tournament. The championship games are final, and while that may seem unfair to Texas fans, it is really the only way to do this tournament in a timely manner given ESPN coverage and scheduling. Texas still had a remarkable tournament and, although they lost to Venezuela in the consolation game, will be remembered for their incredible run when play began in Williamsport.
Chinese Taipei's path to the LLWS Finals was pretty straightforward. They simply won every game they played, and pretty handily too. In fact, Chinese Taipei has not allowed more than two runs in any game they've played in this tournament. In the five games they've played, they've outscored their opponents by a combined total of 36-4.
This team took down Canada, Australia, Cuba, Japan, and Venezuela in that order to finally reach Lake Mary, FL in these Finals.
Florida has had a rather indirect path to the LLWS Finals. After winning their first two games of the tournament over the Midwest and Northwest representatives, the team lost to Texas and was forced into the loser's bracket. Since then though, Florida has won four straight games, including a 10-7 win in their rematch against Texas in the U.S. Finals. In their last four games, they've only surrendered more than three runs once.
Chinese Taipei and Florida will face off in the 2024 LLWS championship game at 3 p.m. ET on ABC.
Collins drove a 3-1 pitch to the right side in the top of the sixth inning, but Vicheria was right there to snag the line drive. The international runners-up defeat the U.S. runners-up to take the victory in the third-place game.
A couple of walks bookend a strikeout to raise the stakes in the top of the sixth inning. The bases are loaded with two outs as Gray Collins steps up to bat. With Venezuela holding a one-run lead, something's got to give.
The Venezuelan starter hits his pitch limit as he collects his eighth strikeout of the day in the sixth inning. He finishes his day having allowed four hits, three runs (none earned), no walks and eight Ks. Carrasquel enters with two outs to get in the top of the final frame.
Muñoz fields a ground ball and shortstop Jett Matthews gets the put-out and an assist by turning an excellent double play that keeps a run off of the board. It's 4-3 Venezuela as Texas heads to the plate for one last chance in the top of the sixth inning.
Mora allows runners to reach second and third but none to score in the top of the fifth inning. He strikes out Gabe Steubing for his seventh K of the day. It's still 4-3 Venezuela.
Joshua Durán hits a ground ball that glances off of first base for a single, but Muñoz, Texas' second baseman, positioned himself well to field the carom. He throws out Santiago Bello, who was trying to score from second base, at the plate. It keeps this a one-run game as the fifth inning begins.
After 3 2/3 innings, Texas' starter hits his pitch limit. He departs the game with two runners on and two outs. Cooper Hastings takes the mound in relief.
The Venezuelan second baseman gets the third out of another 1-2-3 inning by diving to his right to trap a ground ball then making a nice throw from his knees to get the batter out at first. It extends Mora's streak to 11 straight batters retired.
On a full count with the bases loaded, Carrasquel watches a pitch narrowly miss the strike zone. It brings home Zarraga for Venezuela's second run of the inning, and the team takes a 4-3 lead over Texas after three innings.
Beiker Zarraga lays down a bunt and reaches first on a throwing error by Guffey. The errant throw allows Jonathan Landaeta to score from second base and ties the game for Venezuela.
The Venezuelan starter appears to have recovered from a shaky beginning to this game. Mora has retired eight of Texas' hitters in a row after working another 1-2-3 inning in the third. He also tallies his fourth and fifth strikeouts on the day in the frame.
With the bases loaded and one out, Vicheria hits a ground ball to second base but hustles down the line to beat the potential double play. It allows Barrieta to score, and it's a one-run game entering the third inning. Texas leads, 3-2.
The first baseman drives a pitch into the gap in left-center field and plates Samuel Carrasquel with the double. It cuts Venezuela's deficit to two, but Texas still leads, 3-1.
After allowing a crooked number in the first, Mora throws a 1-2-3 inning that features his third strikeout of the day in the second.
Venezuela gets its first two batters aboard on singles, but Guffey strikes out the third and gets a double play from the fourth to emerge unscathed from the inning. Texas still leads, 3-0, through one inning.
With runners on first and second, a Doc Mogford ground ball back to pitcher Willian's Mora ended in disaster for the international bracket runners-up. Mora overthrew third base, both runners scored and Mogford made it to third.
A couple of pitches later, Venezuelan catcher Jesús Díaz couldn't hold on to the offering from Mora, and Mogford scored on the passed ball. It's 3-0 Texas after the top of the first inning.
The two teams that finished as runners-up in the international and U.S. sides of the bracket will square off in the Little League World Series' third-place game. Venezuela fell to Chinese Taipei in the international bracket final, and Texas lost to Florida in the U.S. bracket final, so they'll play for the last spot on the LLWS podium on Sunday.
All third-place and final game of the Little League World Series will be broadcast on one of ESPN2 and ABC, with streaming options including ESPN+, the ESPN app and Fubo, which offers a free trial. Coverage begins at 10 a.m. ET with te consolation game on ESPN 2. That will follow with the championship game, airing on ABC at 3 p.m. ET.
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(All times in ET)
The Little League World Series (LLWS) championship game between Chinese Taipei and Florida on Sunday, August 25th at 3 p.m. ET. The third-place consolation game is set to take place the same day at 10 a.m. ET.
The Little League World Series Championship Game between Chinese Taipei and Florida will begin at 3 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC.
The third-place consolation game will take place on Sunday, August 25 at 10 a.m. ET. This year's consolation game will be between Venezuela, who lost to Chinese Taipei 4-1, and Texas, who lost to Florida, on Saturday.
The Little League World Series is divided into two brackets: the United States bracket and the international bracket. Each bracket will conduct its own individual tournament, and the winner from each bracket will face off in the championship.
The U.S. and international brackets are double-elimination brackets. This means that a team can still advance in a separate elimination bracket even after losing its first game. The winner of the elimination bracket then plays against the winner of the winners' bracket in the U.S. or international final for the opportunity to compete in the LLWS championship.
In other words, a team must lose twice to be eliminated from the tournament.
This year, the grand prize awarded to the Little League World Series winner is a Musco Little League Lighting System for a 200' field. Musco Sports Lighting has been the official lighting system for Little League Baseball and Softball since 1992.
Saturday's action begins at 10:30 a.m., here's a rundown of the games:
All times Eastern.
In recent years, teams from the United States have been very successful in the Little League World Series, winning the last five championships since 2017. The most recent international team to win the tournament was Japan, who defeated Lufkin, Texas 12-2 in the 2017 final, which lasted just five innings.
Results date back to 2010 LLWS.
Here is the full 2024 LLWS bracket, courtesy of the Little League World Series:
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