SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA. — The victory lap around Lamade Stadium never gets old for Japan, nor does the players’ ritual of scooping up some souvenir dirt near the mound after another Little League World Series triumph.
A perennial power in youth baseball, a team from Tokyo rallied past Chula Vista, Calif., 6-4 on Sunday to win Japan’s ninth title and third in four years.
Ryusei Hirooka won this one with a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning, and Shunpei Takagi hit two solo home runs for undefeated Tokyo.
“In all honesty, I’m really happy,” said Japan manager Masumi Omae, who also led the 2003 team to the title. “I definitely always dreamt about coming back to win again. To be able to trust the kids and their abilities is something I’m most proud about.”
Facing one last threat in the sixth, the Japanese players erupted in glee, tossing Omae in the air near the mound after his slick fielders turned a game-ending double play.
“I was thinking, just get a hit at the plate,” Takagi said. “The outcome was two homers, so I was really happy.”
Giancarlo Cortez had a two-run single and Grant Holman an RBI single for Chula Vista.
Trailing 4-3 after Cortez’s clutch single in the fourth, Japan tied it on Takagi’s second homer and won it when Hirooka lined a 2-2 pitch down the left-field line after not being able to sacrifice the runners up a base.
The Americans left 12 runners on base in a game that was there for the taking.
“We left some opportunities out there, but give Japan credit,” Chula Vista manager Rick Tibbett said. “They made some great defensive plays.”
Mexico beat Connecticut 15-14 in the consolation game.
