One of the most exciting sporting events of the year, the annual Little League World Series has been dominated by the international bracket as of late. The U.S. champion has not defeated the victor out of the international side since 2011. Four straight years they have sent an excellent young team to face the world’s best, and four straight years they have been sent back defeated. As the international teams look to continue their stranglehold on the Little League World Series crowns, let’s take a look at the teams, and who could win it all this year.
Japan
Although the Japanese team never has to win more than four or five games to reach Williamsport, as opposed to American teams that must a grueling schedule of up to 20 games in order to reach their final destination, the Japan squad is always a favorite, and for good reason. In five of the past six years, the always-entertaining Japanese squad has won the International bracket, advancing to the finals. This year, the Japanese squad comes out of Chofu Little League in Tokyo, Japan. Chofu dominated four games on their way to reaching Williamsport, outscoring their opponents 57-16 in four victories.
They started off with victories of 15-2, 11-3, and 11-1 to reach the Japanese final. In the final, their pitching finally faltered, but their offense was as explosive as ever in a 20-10 slugfest of a win. Chofu will make their second appearance in Williamsport, but their first since 1976. The last time they were in the World Series, they won it all, advancing to finals courtesy of a perfect game. Coming out of Japan, they will be instant favorites and an electric team to watch, what with their excellent arms and booming bats. Japan will look for its 11th title overall, while Chofu looks to pick up their second.
Mexico
Another common favorite on the international side, although they haven’t actually advanced to the title game against the U.S. champion since 2008. However, Mexico has been thwarted on the doorstep of making it to the final several times, usually by Japan. This year, they’ll look to finally get to that elusive championship game, by sending Williamsport newbie San Nicolas Little League to the World Series, with a 7-1 record.
The Mexicans have shown both explosive offense (14-3 and 10-1 victories) as well as superb pitching (3-2 and 2-0 wins). They average just under 7 runs a team with a solid, if not spectacular, 3.50 ERA. They’ll be challenged to defeat the explosive offense of Japan, but they will look to use their squad’s balanced skill-set to make a deep run in Williamsport.
Latin America
They’ve struggled in the World Series lately, but riding an excellent third place finish on the International side last year, this year’s representative from Panama will look to boost them to their first International title since 2000. Their pitching has been phenomenal, as they have allowed just one run per game thus far. Their offense was dominant as they posted ten or more runs in each of their first three games. Their only close game was a tight 2-0 lead over defending Latin American champion Venezuela. Averaging 9.6 runs per game, this Panama squad will look to give the traditional favorites from the International side a run for their money.
Asia Pacific
With just one year between births, the East Seoul Little League team out of South Korea is back in Williamsport. This same Little League won it all in 2014 when the South Koreans took the title over the Great Lakes squad out of Illinois. With an ERA of 1.30 over their seven-game run to Williamsport and a high-octane offense, East Seoul should be ready for another deep run in Williamsport. Opposing pitchers had an ugly 18.59 ERA against this South Korean squad, which scored 85 runs in seven games totaling 32 innings, as they mercy-ruled their opponent five times. They pitched five shutouts in the first six games, before allowing six in the title game, a 7-6 victory over Chinese Taipei.
Europe-Africa
After breaking a 12-year curse at the Little League World Series last year, the Europe-Africa squad will look to expand upon their 1-2 record from 2015, and make it even further, with this year’s team coming from Italy, boasting a 5-1 record and a 1.80 ERA. They’ve put up as many as 20 runs in a game, scoring a total of 57 over six games. They did lose one game, 4-3 to the Czech Republic, but they rebounded to defeat the Czechs 5-1 in the title game, sending them to Williamsport. They’ll be a tough team to beat with an excellent offense and sparkling pitching numbers, but the competition in Williamsport will be tougher than in Europe.
Australia
Another team with nasty pitching, the Australian champion out of Hills Little League in Sydney cruised to a 6-0 record with a 0.92 ERA. They scored 73 runs over 26 innings, averaging just over twelve runs per game. Australia doesn’t have a track record of success in Williamsport, having never advanced to the championship game and often being eliminated within the first two or three games. However, this Sydney squad will look to change that as they enter the 2016 Little League World Series
Caribbean
They scored 61 runs over a six-game stretch to clinch their berth in Williamsport, meaning they probably didn’t need a lot of pitching. However, they got the best pitching anyways, giving up just 1 run in 28 innings, an era of barely 0.3. Their defense and pitching have been remarkable but overshadowed by the feats of their offense. They needed that pitching in their next-to-last game when they squeaked by Aruba 1-0, one of the very few times their offense struggled. Out of Curacao, this team has had success in Williamsport before, winning one title game while losing another in the early 2000s. This team will try to emulate that success, and they’ve got the skills to do it with.
Canada
Despite two tight games against British Columbia, the Ontario squad out of Hastings Little League prevailed in the Canadian region, defeating their rivals 1-0 in the championship game. Their offense was solid, if not full of fireworks, as they averaged just under eight runs a game. Their pitching is very good, as they feature an excellent 1.17 ERA, but will their record hold up in Williamsport, especially coming off a winless performance in 2016?
Predictions
1. Asia-Pacific
2. Japan
3. Australia
4. Carribean
5. Latin America
6. Canada
7. Europe-Africa
8. Mexico
Check out the preview of the American side of the bracket here.