For the third time in the past four years, and second year in a row, Kitasuna Little League from Tokyo, Japan will represent the Japan Region at the Little League Baseball World Series. Kitasuna Little League defeated Hachioji Little League, also from Tokyo, on Monday, July 20, 20-3, winning its way to compete in South Williamsport, Pa., this summer. Sixteen teams took part in the two-day event held at Shirakawa, Fukushima.
Kitasuna Little League first competed in Williamsport in 2001, the year that the Little League Baseball World Series format expanded to 16 teams. This will be the fifth appearance for the league in 15 years; winning the Championship in 2001 and 2012, and finishing as runner-up in 2007. At the 2014 Little League Baseball World Series, the team from Kitasuna finished with three wins and two losses, falling to eventual World Series Champions, Seoul Little League from South Korea, in the International Championship Game. This will be the 26th time that a team from Japan will compete in the Little League Baseball World Series, nine of those teams have gone on to win the World Series Championship, most recently in 2013 when Musashi Fuchu Little League captured the banner.
Kitasuna Little League finished the Japan Region Tournament with a 4-0 record, outscoring opponents 44-4. Click here to learn more about the Japan Region Tournament.
The Japan Region Champion will face off against the Asia-Pacific Region Champion in the first round of the Little League Baseball World Series on Friday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m., at Volunteer Stadium. Tung Yuan Little League from Taipei, Chinese Taipei won the Asia-Pacific Region Championship on Monday, July 20. For more information on the Asia-Pacific Region Tournament, click here. Over the course of 10 days, 32 games will be played in the Little League Baseball World Series, concluding with the Little League Baseball World Series Championship Game, which is scheduled for 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 30.