One way or another, Hamilton West Side's time in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, comes to a close today.
Ohio plays Japan in the Little League World Series Consolation Third-Place Game on Sunday, Aug. 30. The third-place game is scheduled for a 10 a.m. first pitch and will air live on ESPN.
Yesterday, both the Great Lakes and Japan suffered similar outcomes. Ohio had a rematch with Nevada in the U.S. championship, but Nevada won 12-2 in five innings. Japan faced Curaçao for a rematch in the International Final, but Curaçao moved on with a 4-0 shutout.
The competitors in today's third-place game took similar paths to reach this stage. Both Hamilton West Side and Japan fell in the first round of the winners' bracket, so each had to win five straight
games with their backs against the wall.
For Ohio, a consistent small-ball offense made the run possible. A 10-0 run-rule victory over New England set the tone, then Ohio posted a 6-2 victory over Texas and a 5-2 victory over New Jersey. West Side kept the bats hot in an 11-2 victory over Alabama and capped the streak with a 7-1 victory over Iowa in the elimination-bracket finals. Even as West Side turned in a tournament-best 46 runs, the team only had three extra-base hits.
Japan, on the other hand, used stronger slugging numbers to advance. The team from Tokyo defeated the Caribbean Region 10-1, Europe-Africa 3-2, Mexico 3-1, Canada 7-3, and Latin America 4-1. All told, Japan recorded six extra-base hits and six home runs.
West Side has made a record six World Series appearances but a win over Japan would be the team's first international victory. Follow along for live updates as Hamilton looks to leave Williamsport on top.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Hamilton West Side faces Japan in LLWS third-place game | Live
