Japan Captures Little League World Series Title

The 2017 Little League World Series concluded on Sunday with the team from Japan erasing an early 2-0 deficit and cruising to a 12-2 win over the boys from Texas. Here’s a look at Japan’s top performer.

Sunday’s Scores:
Mexico 14, North Carolina 8 (third place)
Japan 12, Texas 2, 5 innings, championship

Keitaro Miyahara rounds the bases after hitting a home run at the 2017 Little League World Series. Photo courtesy of Robb Carr/Getty Images

Player of the Day—Keitaro Miyahara, Japan
The Japanese shortstop and captain did what he does best in the championship game: play great baseball in helping Japan to the title. After he grounded out to lead off the game, he would not be retired again. Miyahara clobbered a two-run triple in the second inning to erase an early 2-0 hole and eventually scored the go-ahead run. He followed that up with a solo home run in the fourth and a two-run double in the fifth (and final) inning. He finished the day a single shy of the cycle, going 3-for-4 with five RBIs and three runs scored. Coupled with Tsubasa Tomii’s resilient performance on the mound after giving up two home runs in the first inning and Japan’s strong defense, and it’s no surprise that the best team in the tournament captured the title.

BA Intern Conor Hynes contributed to this report