SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Lathan Norton was sick and didn’t play on Saturday at the Little League World Series. But on Sunday he scored the winning run in the championship.
Lathan raced home from second base on an overthrow at first as Lake Mary, Florida, rallied to beat Taiwan 2-1 in eight innings and claim the title.
“It was the greatest feeling ever,” said Lathan, who had a fever of 102 on Saturday but recovered before the championship. “I still haven’t had time to let it all sink in, but it feels like the most amazing thing ever.”
Taiwan clung to a 1-0 lead from the first inning until Florida’s last at-bat. The Southeast region representatives outhit Taiwan and had a runner on third in three separate innings, but couldn’t get a run across.
Then, in the bottom of the sixth, Florida got runners on first and second and DeMarcos Mieses, who struck out in his previous two at-bats, delivered. Hitting the gap in shallow left, he gave Chase Anderson enough time to sprint home and tie the game.
In the eighth, Lathan was placed by rule on second base to start the inning. Hunter Alexander bunted and the throw to first went into the outfield. Florida players poured out of the dugout while the Taiwan players crumpled.
“I was just thinking, ‘Stay fair, stay fair,’” Hunter said. “After that ball goes past me, I say, ‘Let’s go!’”
Taiwan drew two straight walks to start the game. After a bunt moved the runners over and a pop out, Hu Yen-Chun hit a ball toward third, which ricocheted off James Feliciano. Chiu Wei-Che scored easily. But it was Taiwan’s only run.
This is the first championship in nine tries for Florida, which also came from behind in its 10-7 semifinal win over Texas on Saturday, scoring five runs in its final at-bat.
“We came here to do something. We came here to do a job, and today we accomplished that job,” Florida manager Jonathan Anderson said. “We took a loss to Texas, we battled all the way back and here we are to talk about how we won this whole thing.”
Taiwan was a dominant team at the LLWS from 1969, when it won its first championship, to 1996, when it claimed its 17th. But it had only made the title game once since, in 2009, a loss to California, before Sunday. Lee Cheng-Ta managed both that team and this year’s club, Kuei-Shan Little League from Taoyuan, Taiwan. Last season, he led the same team — with a completely different roster — to a third-place finish.
Coaches for Taiwan, representing the Asia-Pacific region, declined to attend the postgame news conference.
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Amanda Vogt is a student in the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
The Little League World Series is a highly anticipated event that showcases the talents of young baseball players from around the world. This year, the championship game between Lake Mary, Florida and Taiwan did not disappoint, as the two teams battled it out in an intense 8-inning showdown.
Lake Mary, Florida came into the game as the underdogs, facing off against a powerhouse team from Taiwan that had dominated throughout the tournament. However, Lake Mary showed their resilience and determination, never backing down from the challenge.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading blows and making spectacular plays in the field. Lake Mary’s pitching staff was stellar, keeping Taiwan’s potent offense at bay for most of the game. Taiwan, on the other hand, displayed their trademark precision and skill, making it clear that they were not going down without a fight.
As the game went into extra innings, the tension in the stadium was palpable. Both teams had opportunities to score, but it was Lake Mary who finally broke through in the top of the 8th inning. With runners on second and third, a clutch hit brought in the go-ahead run, putting Lake Mary ahead by one.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, Taiwan mounted a comeback attempt, but Lake Mary’s defense held strong, making a crucial double play to seal the victory. The final out sparked a celebration among the Lake Mary players and fans, as they realized they had just won the Little League World Series title.
The win was a testament to Lake Mary’s hard work and dedication throughout the tournament. They had faced tough competition and overcome numerous obstacles to reach this point, and their victory was well-deserved.
As for Taiwan, they put up a valiant effort and showed why they are considered one of the top Little League teams in the world. Their sportsmanship and skill on the field were commendable, and they should be proud of their performance in the championship game.
Overall, the Lake Mary vs. Taiwan matchup was a thrilling conclusion to the Little League World Series, showcasing the talent and passion of young baseball players from around the globe. Congratulations to Lake Mary, Florida on their well-earned victory and to both teams for putting on an unforgettable show for fans everywhere.
