Little League World Series to be held in Florida and Taiwan – Press Telegram

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Everything seemed to be going Texas’ way.

The Southwest Region champion held a 4-0 lead over Florida in the third inning Saturday in the title game of the Little League World Series bracket. Starting pitcher Julian Hurst hadn’t allowed a hit, much less a run, in beating Florida last Monday.

Then things got crazy. Three lead changes later, Florida is headed to the Minor League World Series championship on Sunday. Luis Calo hit a two-run double in the sixth inning as Lake Mary, Florida, beat Boerne, Texas, 10-7 in a semifinal matchup.

“We’ve prepared for this, we’ve worked for this,” manager Jonathan Anderson said. “It’s been our summer.”

Florida, representing the Southeast region, will face Taiwan, which beat Venezuela 4-1, on Sunday afternoon. It will be the first appearance by a Florida team in the title game since 2003, when East Boynton Beach fell to Japan’s Musashi-Fuchi, 10-1.

Texas appeared to be in control after Doc Mogford hit a two-run double off the outstretched glove of Jacob Bibaud, making it 4-0.

Florida’s comeback began an inning later when James Feliciano popped out for an RBI single. An inning later, Teraj Alexander capped a four-run comeback when he stole home and gave Florida its first lead of the game, 5-4.

“I saw the receiver was looking up the hill,” Teraj said. “I started to slowly move forward. Then, when I thought I had it all under control, like 100 percent, I just ran.”

After Texas rallied with three runs, Florida entered its final at-bat in the sixth inning trailing 7-5.

But Jacob Bibaud hit a grounder that bounced off the infield, bringing in James Feliciano and cutting the lead to 7-6. Liam Morrisey’s sacrifice fly brought in Garrett Rohozen to tie the game.

After Luis connected on his game-winning hit, Liam, who came on as a courtesy runner, stole third and went to score when an error left the ball loose on the third base line.

“I know I pushed you hard and I know I told you that this job would get you to the promised land. And I’m sure you didn’t believe me,” Anderson said. “But here we are, guys, here we are. The job’s not done. We’ve got one more. But, guys, we’re close.”

Taiwan 4, Venezuela 1

Taiwan couldn’t do much at the plate on Saturday, but the way starter Lai Cheng-Xi was pitching, that didn’t matter.

Lai struck out 12 batters and allowed just three hits in 5 1/3 innings as the Asia-Pacific team beat Venezuela to advance to the Little League World Series championship.

“He’s the team’s star pitcher and he shows leadership,” manager Lee Cheng-Ta said through an interpreter. “He’s calm and hard-working, so every time we’ve had a big game he’s always been the one taking responsibility.”

Taiwan also managed just three hits, but drew eight walks and scored twice on wild pitches.

Taiwan will face Florida in the title match on Sunday. Making its 32nd appearance at the LLWS, Taiwan has a chance to win it all for the first time since 1996, although it has won the tournament title 17 times, more than any other international team, including a run of five consecutive titles from 1977 to 1981.

The Kuei-Shan Little League from Taoyuan, Taiwan, made it to the semifinals on the international side of the bracket in 2023, but ultimately settled for third place. Cheng-Ta brought the team back to South Williamsport, but with a completely different roster.

Jose Perez took the mound for Venezuela with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the third inning. Yu Chia-Jai walked five times and raised his arms in joy looking toward his dugout as Chen Bo-Wei walked to the plate. The play made it 2-0, but it felt like a turning point with Lai in control.

“I was telling the kids to be aggressive when hitting, but the kids are trained enough to know what a ball or a strike is going to be, so if you see a ball, you know, don’t chase it,” Cheng-Ta said.

As Lai racked up strikeouts, Venezuela struggled to find the strike zone consistently. Wild pitches proved costly early on. In the first inning, a pitch from starter Luis Yepez found the backstop, allowing Chiu Wei-Che to slide safely home and put Taiwan on the scoreboard.

Venezuela opened its first at-bat with a single to left field by Luis, and a sacrifice bunt moved him to second. But Lai ended the Latin American threat by striking out the next two batters.