Endwell, N.Y., captures crown
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — As Ryan Harlost stepped to the mound on Sunday, he took it all in.
Chants of “U-S-A, U-S-A!” droned over his left shoulder as he dipped it to deliver a warmup pitch. South Korean arms and flags waved furiously to his right. Little kids who asked for his autograph earlier in the week used makeshift sleds to slide down the hill toward most of the 22,000-plus fans who packed Lamade Stadium.
The Endwell, N.Y., pitcher admitted it made him uneasy. He sure didn’t show it.
Harlost led New York to the Little League World Series title, striking out eight and limiting South Korea to five hits in six innings in a 2-1 victory. He scored the deciding run on a passed ball in the fourth inning.
“I was a little nervous at first in front of a lot of people, but it’s just another game and I felt confident going in,” Harlost said.
Endwell snapped a five-year championship drought for U.S. teams on Little League’s biggest stage and gave New York its first title since 1964 (Mid Island of Staten Island). Huntington Beach (Orange County) won the last American title in 2011.
Junho Jeong (1-2) gave up two runs on four hits and struck out nine for South Korea. He was unflappable for most of the afternoon, working the outside of the plate masterfully for 31⁄3 innings of no-hit ball before Jude Abbadessa broke through in the fourth.
Waking to the plate as Endwell fans along the first base side bellowed “Juuude!” Abbadessa broke up the righty’s no-hit bid with a single to center. Harlost followed with a liner to the same spot and Conner Rush plated the go-ahead run with a hit that fell in behind the shortstop.
“I was just thinking get it in play any way you can,” Rush said. “Once that happens, you never know what can happen.”
Harlost raced home to give New York a 2-0 lead one batter later.
Yoomin Lee homered for the Asia-Pacific champs from Seoul to halve New York’s lead in the fifth. Harlost’s precision and a stingy New York defense prevented further damage.
“The Mid-Atlantic team is a really good defensive team,” South Korean manager Heesu Ji said. “I’m really proud of my team.”
Minho Choi struck out with runners on first and second to end the game. Harlost turned toward his dugout but didn’t make it there as his teammates rushed out to dogpile on him near the baseline.