New York team faces South Korea for title

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Michael Mancini led Endwell, N.Y., to the Little League World Series championship game Saturday, striking out 11 in a 4-2 victory over Goodlettsville, Tenn., in the U.S. final.

The Mid-Atlantic champs will try to win their first title against international winner South Korea on Sunday. South Korea beat Panama 7-2 earlier Saturday in the international final.

“I don’t think I can describe it, maybe the boys can,” said New York manager Scott Rush. “Just an unbelievable feeling.”

New York players Mancini, Billy Dundon, Jack Hopko and Jude Abbadessa appeared in the postgame media room and all used the same word — “awesome.”

Mancini allowed just one hit through 42 ⁄3 innings, and his team’s offense came alive in the fourth. Dundon drove in two runs, and Hopko and James Fellows each had an RBI for New York.

“The curveball is usually my biggest pitch because I know if I’m down in the count I can throw that and get back up and maybe get them out with that pitch,” Mancini said. “So you never know what can happen with that pitch.”

Tennessee manager Joey Hale praised his players’ approach while acknowledging his hitters struggled to hit Mancini’s elusive curveball.

Jon Luke Simmons broke up Mancini’s no-hit bid in the top of the fifth. After Mancini got his 11th strikeout one batter later, Endwell fans along the first-base side gave him a standing ovation as he yielded the mound to Abbadessa.

Down to his team’s last out,

Zach McWilliams gave Tennessee life with a two-run homer off Abbadessa in the top of the sixth. McWilliams’ blast halved New York’s lead, but Abbadessa struck out Carson Rucker to end the game.

South Korea 7, Panama 2: Youbin Choi struck out 14 in six innings as the Asia-Pacific Region champs won the international bracket and will try for their first title Sunday.

Choi gave up six hits in six innings. Seum Kwon and Jaekyeong Kim hit two-run homers, and Wontae Cho also connected for South Korea (4-0).

Carlos Gonzalez had three hits for the Latin American Region champions.