The game-winning play at the 2024 Little League World Series did not result from a walk-off home run, a line drive that led to a dramatic play at the plate, or a powerful strikeout on a full count.
It was more of a colorful one.
With the game tied in extra innings of the final game, Hunter Alexander of Lake Mary (Florida) Little League laid down a bunt down the first-base line. A play intended to advance teammate Lathan Norton from second base with no outs turned out to be much more.
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Chiu Wei-Che, the pitcher for the opposing team Chinese Taipei, ran from the mound, grabbed the ball and threw it to first base for the out. The problem was, however, that his first baseman left his post in an apparent moment of miscommunication, which meant that the pitcher threw the ball into an empty base, allowing Norton to score the game-winning run and Lake Mary to win 2-1.
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The lead was the team’s first of the game after trailing 1-0 for virtually the entire afternoon before tying the score in the bottom of the sixth inning when DeMarcos Mieses hit a bloop RBI single into left field with his team down by one out.
The Little League World Series title is the first ever for a team from Florida.
