For New York, it's been a perfect summer. They've played 23 tournament games, and they've won all 23. However, they need 24 wins to reach the ultimate goal of a Little League World Series championship. Standing in their way is South Korea, who are trying to win their second title in three years. They also want to be the spoilers for this New York team, who wants to give their state their first title since 1964. They have a tall order in South Korea, whose ahs featured spectacular pitching and a powerful offense here at Williamsport. However, Mid-Atlantic with counter with a powerful offense of their own, plus an excellent hurler in Ryan Harlost.
New York bats vs. South Korea hurlers
An intriguing matchup between a very good pitching staff and a very good offense. South Korea has only given up runs to one team, Panama, at this Little League World Series, pitching three shutouts en route to a 1.07 ERA. Their depth in their pitching is remarkable, as they have several pitchers available to toe the rubber in the title game against New York. These pitchers include Sangheon Park, Jaekyeong Kim, Junho Jeong, and Wontae Cho. All of those hurlers except Cho have started a game at the World Series, and all of them have been excellent, making the choice for a starter a difficult one.
Park has been excellent for South Korea, as he is coming off three one-hit innings in which struck out nine against Mexico. Jeong has made one start, in the opener against the Caribbean, hurling four shutout innings, scattering three hits. South Korea will put the ball in his hand to start the game, but he has plenty of support if things go south for him quickly. Kim is the only hurler of the three starters to have given up a run, as he worked 4.2 innings of one-run ball in their lone loss of the tournament, a 3-2 loss to Panama, a game in which Jeong took the loss with 0.1 innings of work, giving up two runs. South Korea is in good hands with Cho, who has pitched five relief innings in the tournament, without allowing a hit or a run, and striking out ten.
However, South Korea's arms will be put to the test against possibly the most prolific offense they've faced in the tournament in New York. Attempting to bring the Mid-Atlantic region their first title since 1998, this team out of Maine-Endwell Little League brings an excellent offense to the table. They have had a tough time against excellent pitchers, as they managed just 7 runs in two games against the Southeast.
They combined for 20 runs in their other two games, however. Their offense is far from top-heavy, as most everyone in their lineup has contributed. Just yesterday, it was the bottom of their order that sparked a four-run rally against the Southeast, a total which won them the game. Providing the critical hit in the rally was subsitute Billy Dundon, really showing off the depth of this New York lineup.
However, the top of the order hasn't exactly been a slouch for New York. Jude Abbadessa is 8-14 in Williamsport as the #2 two hitter. Leadoff hitter Michael Mancini and cleanup hitter Conner Rush have both gone 3-11, while Harlost anchors their lineup from the 3-hole, going 4-9 with a healthy dose of walks, inlcuding three intentional walks against the Great Lakes. James Fellows earned a spot in the lineup in the U.S. Championship, following a 4-6 performance in 3 games off the bench for New York. He went 1-2 yesterday, and he is now hitting .625 in Williamsport. He sparks the bottom of the order for New York, which will look to challenge the dominant South Korea arms.
South Korea bats vs. Ryan Harlost and Jude Abbadessa
For New York, there is no question as to who is starting the championship. Harlost has started two games so far, alternating starts with Mancini, and he will start the title game for Mid-Atlantic, as the New York ace looks to guide his team to victory. It's been up-and-down for Harlost in Williamsport. who dominated in his first start and was shaky in his second start.
Overall, he is 1-0 with a 5.76 ERA. Which Harlost will take the mound on Sunday? New York hopes he will be dominant once more. If he isn't, they'll turn to Jude Abbadessa, who has sparkled in relief this tournament. When Harlost struggled against the Great Lakes, Abbadessa got the win with 2.2 innings of two-hit ball, giving up just two unearned runs. New York will hope Harlost will be excellent, but they've got help ready if he isn't.
South Korea's offense has averaged 5.8 runs per game at the World Series so far. And while they haven't necessarily been lethal, they can be explosive and turn dismal innings into two or three runs. Juntaek Ru is solid out of the leadoff slot, going 6-16 so far. Seum Kwon supports him, batting second and going 5-11 an on-base percentage above .500. Junhyeok is solid off the bench, having gone 3-6. Wontae Cho is 4-12 and is a solid role player near the bottom of the order for South Korea. They've got a tough task in Harlost, but if they get some support for their pitching staff, they will be tough to beat.
Prediction: South Korea 5-2