In a statement victory, Asia-Pacific dominated their winner's bracket game, rapping twelve hits en route to a 10-0 thrashing of the Canada team that was fresh off their upset of Japan. 

Jungtaek Ru and Wontae Cho both knocked out three hits for the South Korean squad, representing a country that has never lost in the Little League World SeriesMoosung Kim chipped in with two hits. Canada managed just one hit off of three different South Korean hurlers in the mercy-rule shortened defeat. 

Asia-Pacific gets two runs early, pours it on late

Sometimes the first inning is a sign of what is to come for the rest of the game. This was not the case in this game, as Asia-Pacific went hitless in a rare scoreless frame to begin the inning. 

But they did tack on two runs in the second inning. Kim singled with one out for the Asian squad, advancing to third on a double and scoring on a wild pitch. Cho, the player who nailed the double, came around to score on a RBI single from Ru to stake Asia-Pacific to the early two-run lead.

However, it was the later innings in which things really unraveled for Canada. Cho started the scoring with triple that he blasted to the right field wall, increasing the lead to 3-0. A walk put runners on the corners, setting the stage for Ru. South Korea's leadoff hitter got his pitch and crushed it to deep right-center field for a backbreaking three-run home run that increased the lead to 6-0. They stranded two more runners in the inning, but the damage was done. 

Ru earns a fist--bump during his home run trot after a three-run bomb. Gene J. Puskar AP Photo

The South Korean bats weren't to be quieted just yet. In what would be the final inning, their booming bats struck for four more runs to end the game via the mercy rule. Kim started the rally with a monster jack to dead center field, a feat mirrored by Cho one batter later. Minho Choi would end the game with a two-run double that brought the final score to 10-0. 

Supreme dominance on the mound for Asia-Pacific

Ensuring that their monster offensive performance would not go to waste, Asia-Pacific was simply dominant on the bump, giving up just one hit over five innings between three pitchers. The most stunning thing about their performance? Every out came via the strikeout. The first twelve Canadian hitters of the game struck out. 

Youbin Choi got the first eight whiffs for Asia-Pacific, before being removed after 38 pitches in order to preserve him for later in the tournament. Cho entered the game next on the mound and whiffed six batters without giving up a baserunner until giving up a walk. 

Jaekyeong Kim was the final hurler of the night for the South Koreans. Kim gave up the no-hitter with two outs in the top of the fifth inning, but he ultimately finished off the frame with the fifteenth strikeout of the day for Asia-Pacific hurlers, setting the stage for their big bats to end the game in the bottom of the frame.   

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