Little League World Series 2010 Crowns Tokyo

The Little League World Series 2010 is over. After all this time, the Little League World Series 2010 has Tokyo as the last team standing. The scores leading up to yesterday's title game were filled with blowouts, late rallies, and heroics. But the schedule concluded with a close game, as Tokyo finally ended Waipahu, Hawaii's, battle from the brink. Given how the two got this far, the Little League World Series 2010 couldn't end with anything but a tight showdown.

Tokyo came back from three late deficits to win the international title, while Waipahu won five straight elimination games to represent the U.S. The two champions had been supremely battle tested already, so the championship stage did not faze them.

For the Little League World Series 2010 finale, Tokyo went out ahead this time. They held a 2-0 lead, yet Waipahu cut the score in half heading into the final inning. Tokyo knew full well how a team could blow a late inning lead, after they did it to Chinese Taipei on Saturday.

Yet, in spite of Waipahu's constant comebacks, there would be no more of them in the Little League World Series 2010. A two-run home run in the sixth by Tokyo's Konan Tomori finished things off, resulting in a 4-1 final score.

For the first time since 2004, the U.S. lost a championship game. Tokyo was among the last international teams to win it all, having done it in 2003. This time, they ended the Little League World Series 2010 schedule at a perfect 5-0.

Hawaii would not win a second championship in three years, in spite of a miracle run to the finish. Their scores for the previous two games had been very high, yet the Tokyo pitching staff shut them down. Tokyo locked down high-scoring Chinese Taipei on Saturday, and did even better in the title match, as Waipahu only had four hits.

With the Little League World Series 2010 schedule finished, Williamsport will now get to rest for another year. The youngsters from Tokyo and Waipahu will be immortalized for their work, as they provided inspirational journeys to the top. But the most dominant overall team may have been Chinese Taipei, which won third place with a 14-2, four-inning win over Pearland, Texas.

However, it is Tokyo that celebrates the Little League World Series 2010 title today, after they surprised the Chinese and did what many others couldn't against Hawaii. But, as some still say, there are no real losers at Williamsport.

Sources

Pittsburgh Post Gazette- "Little League World Series: Japan's pitching, defense snares title"