The worst thing to do in a double-elimination tournament is lose your first game. Losers of their first game are required to make a lengthy run through the loser's bracket to advance to the elimination rounds. It's a tough road that Japan has not had to experience in the years that the Little League World Series has had a double elimination format. However, after a shocking opening loss to Canada, Japan will have to make a run through the loser's bracket for the first time.
Japan had not lost the first game of the Little League World Series since 1965, when the tournament was single elimination. They hadn't lost the opener to a fellow international team since 1962. Both of those lengthy streaks ended on Friday, as Canada, using excellent pitching from Loreto Siniscalchi, as well as timely offense, cruised past Japan, the International champion in five of the past six years. Canada's balanced offense was led by Nathan Clegg and Cristian Santarelli, both of whom paced the underdogs with 2 RBI apiece from the lower part of the batting order.
Canada's offense jumps on Japan early and often
Knowing that Japan has a lethal offense, Canada knew it was important to get an early lead to back their pitcher. They did just that, staking Siniscalchi to a 2-0 lead, before he even took the mound. A fielder's choice scored the first run of the ball game, while Canada literally stole another run on a perfectly executed double steal. Although Siniscalchi cruised in the early going, Canada wanted to leave no chances for the powerhouse Japanese to make a comeback. Two runs apiece in the third and fourth inning broke the game wide open for the Canadians.
They didn't need any clutch hitting in the third inning, as two wild pitches scored two runs for the Canadians out of Vancouver. In the fourth inning, Santarelli, who did not start the game but appeared as a pinch-hitter, blasted a two-run bomb to dead center field, the ball soaring over the 225-foot sign in the deepest part of the ballpark for a 6-0 Canada lead.
Japan notched single tallies in the fourth and fifth innings, but Canada responded both times. In the fifth inning, after one run crossed on an RBI single from Stefano Del Sasso, Clegg drilled a two-run double to left-center field to increase the lead to 9-1. Canada added one more in the sixth inning on a solo jack from Siniscalchi, who picked up the win on the hill.
Siniscalchi's heat too much for Japan
Featuring a blazing fastball by little league standards, Siniscalchi dominated the Japanese lineup, particularly in the early going, allowing the Canadian bats to build him a healthy lead. Siniscalchi struck out seven of the first eight batters he faced, with the only out in play coming on a fly out to right field. After three easy innings, Siniscalchi slipped up briefly in the fourth and fifth innings, allowing runs that hardly mattered due to Canada's massive lead. Two singles and a fielder's choice led to Japan's first run of the day, but Siniscalchi escaped the rest of the fourth inning unharmed.
A hit batter and a walk cost the Canadian hurler in the fifth inning, as one more runner crossed the plate, but the lead remained solid at 9-2. He appeared to tire in the sixth inning as, needing one out to secure the complete-game victory, Siniscalchi surrendered a two-run single to Jo Adachi, to cut the Canada lead to 10-4. He was forced to leave the hill due to his 89 pitches thrown. However, Japan's rally fell well short, as Canada took the shocking victory and advanced to the winner's bracket. They play Asia-Pacific, while Japan will battle for survival against the Caribbean.