Only four teams remain in the Little League World Series hoping to take home the world title on Sunday afternoon, and all four have a good chance of being the team to beat when the U.S. and international championship games are played today at Lamade Stadium.
The international final will be between the city of Taoyuan in Chinese Taipei, the champion of the Asia-Pacific region, and Barquisimeto in Venezuela, the champion of the Latin America region.
The final in the United States will be between Boerne, Texas, the Southwest Region champion, and Lake Mary, Florida, the Southeast Region champion.
The international final is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and the United States final begins at 3:30 p.m. Sunday’s World Series final will be played at 3 p.m. at Lamade Stadium.
The losers of the two finals on Saturday will meet in a consolation match for third place on Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Lamade.
All teams in the field are hoping to end the title drought for their respective states or countries. The last Little League World Series title for one of the final four teams dates back to 2017 (Texas).
Chinese Taipei – the team from Taiwan – has not played in a championship game since losing to Chula Vista, California, in 2009. The last title for a team from Taiwan was won in 1996.
“The kids are excited (to be in the final),” Chinese Taipei manager Lee Cheng-Ta said this at a press conference after the victory over Japan on Wednesday. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to take part in the international final.”
Venezuela has only appeared in a Little League World Series championship game twice, in 1994 and 2000 in Maracaibo. Both times, Venezuela won the title.
Texas is seeking its first World Series final appearance since 2017, when Lufkin, Texas, lost to Japan 12-2 in a five-inning game. Although Texas has historically had strong teams that have made it to the Series, the state has only two World Series titles to its name: 1950 and 1966.
Florida has not appeared in a Little League World Series championship game – or the U.S. finals – since 2001, when Apopka, Florida, lost to Tokyo, Japan, in a close 2-1 final.
“It’s great to finally be in Williamsport,” Texas standout Julian Hurst said this at a press conference earlier this week. “Not many teams make it here and to be among the 20 is amazing. It’s every kid’s dream.”
They may have started as a 20-man team, but they are now one of only four and are among the best Little League teams in the world. And Hurst and Texas aren’t just satisfied with reaching the United States finals. The Southwest Region champions are hoping to win it all.
They will have a rematch against Florida, the Southeast Regional champions hoping for revenge as Texas defeated Florida 4-1 on Monday.
The loss forced Florida into the elimination round, where it had to make few mistakes and win three games in three days to advance to the U.S. championship game on Saturday.
