Little League World Series: Texas Team Ends Inspirational Run

LUFKIN, TX —The Lufkin Little League All-Stars, representing the Southwest region, lost to Japan 2-12 in the championship game in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Japan's bats came alive Sunday afternoon at the Howard J. Lamade stadium, with Keitaro Miyahara collecting three hits — a home run, triple and double. He scored three runs and knocked in five RBIs. Daisuke Hashimoto and Natsuki Yajima also homered in the blow out win.

Lufkin's bats started hot against Japanese pitcher Tsubasa Tomii, with both Hunter Ditsworth and Chandler Spencer homering in the first inning. Tomii settled down though, and gave up just one hit the rest of the day. He finished with nine strikeouts over five innings. (For more information on the Lufkin team and other Little League stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Lufkin pitchers Chip Buchanan and Malcolm Deason combined to allow 12 runs — nine earned — on 14 hits over 4 2/3 innings. They struck out three batters and gave up three home runs.

On Saturday, the #Thundering13, down five runs, made an improbable comeback to defeat the Greenville, North Carolina-based North State as Hurricane Harvey battered southern Texas.

Lufkin coach Bud Maddux has coached youth leagues for 41 years, ESPN reported. This was his first Little League World Series. Japan was the only team that never lost a game.

Inning by inning recap below (refresh for updates):

1st inning:

Southwest batting: On the very first pitch of the game, Lufkin's Chandler Spencer hit a home run into the crowd in left field, and the crowd erupted into chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" Hunter Ditsworth later in the inning launched an opposite field home run to right field to push the score to 2-0, prompting more chants from the crowd.

U-S-A! U-S-A! Love watching these kids from Lufkin, TX do their thing on the diamond! #LLWS #thundering13
— Ryan C⚾️ (@TheCan6817) August 27, 2017

Japan batting: After making a great throw to first base to get the first batter out, Collin Ross couldn't quite get the ball out of his glove a second time and allowed Ryusei Fujiwara to reach first base. Fujiwara advanced to second base on a wild pitch and then reached third on an infield single to shortstop. Natsuki Yajima grounded out to third base to put runners on second and third bases with two outs, but Lufkin pitcher Buchanan was able to escape the jam with a strikeout.

2nd inning:

Southwest batting: After a leadoff Buchanan walk, Tomii struck out the next three batters to end the frame.

Japan batting: After Lufkin pitcher Buchanan gave up a walk and a single, Keitaro Miyahara laced a triple to right-center field, tying the game at two. A subsequent bloop single to right field off the bat of Fujiwara gave Japan it's first lead in the game 3-2. Buchanon was able to escape further damage by striking out Seiya Arai on a fabulous breaking ball that started in the strike zone and dove down into the dirt.

3rd inning:

Southwest batting: Lufkin went down in order, with Malcolm Deason the only batter able to put the ball in play on a well struck ball that found its way into the center fielders glove.

Japan batting: Lufkin third baseman Ross stole a surefire leadoff extra-base hit from Yajima, stabbing a line drive out of the air on a backhand. Japan's Riku Goto then reached first base on a dropped third strike when the catcher's throw hit him as he sprinted to first base. Buchanan managed to get the next batters out on a fielder's choice and pop out to shortstop.

4th inning:

Southwest batting: Lufkin again couldn't get any baserunners, as Ross came the closest on a loud fly out to left field.

Japan hasn't allowed a hit in the last 3.1 innings after the second home run. Great turnaround. #LLWS
— Alan Marrs (@AlanMarrs) August 27, 2017

Japan batting: Buchanan plunked leadoff batter Daisuke Hashimoto in the leg, but Hashimoto technically swung at the pitch and wasn't allowed to go to first. Unfortunately for Buchanan, Hashimoto later homered in the at-bat to push Japan's lead to 2-4.

Sayonara!!!! What a rocket by Hashimoto! Got blasted with a pitch, comes back and goes yard! #llws
— Lars Lewis (@larslewis12) August 27, 2017

Not to be outdone, Miyahara then went yard, turning on Buchanan's high and inside pitch and launching it over the left field fence. That was the last pitch of the day for Buchanan, who was relieved by Deason. Deason immediately gave up a single to center and later a monstrous home run into left center by Yajima.

5th inning:

Southwest batting: Lufkin leadoff hitter Clayton Wigley ripped a grounder shortstop that the fielder couldn't handle and reached on an infield single for the team's third hit of the afternoon. Tomii continued to frustrate Lufkin hitters though, and the team was unable to muster another hit in the frame.

Japan batting: An error and a single put runners on first and second for Hashimoto, who had homered earlier in the game. Deason won the battle though, getting Hashimoto to pop out to second base. But Rei Ichisawa then singled on a bouncing ball between first and second base to push the score to 2-8. Miyahara, who had previously homered and tripled in the game, then launched a double off the left field wall to plate two more runs. Miyahara advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a poor throw to third. The inning didn't end there though, as Arai roped a double past the outstretched center fielder's glove. Arai scored the game-ending run on a single from Yajima.

Final score: 2-12

These young men have so much to be proud of! They have made their hometown, state, and country incredibly proud! #Thundering13 #LLWS
— Dan Usher (@MrUsherLHS) August 27, 2017

Lufkin roster:

• Malcolm Deason
• Zack Phipps
• Kolby Kovar
• Charlie Deaton
• Clayton Wigley
• Christian Mumphery
• Blake Slaga
• Mark Requena
• Hunter Ditsworth
• Collin Ross
• Lance Modisette
• Chandler Spencer
• Chip Buchanan

Japan roster:

• Tsubasa Tomii
• Takuma Kashiwagura
• Ryota Ono
• Ryusei Fujiwara
• Ryuto Inoue
• Rei Ichisawa
• Kazuki Watanabe
• Keitaro Miyahara
• Daisuke Hashimoto
• Seiya Arai
• Yuya Nakajima
• Riku Goto
• Ryuto Konno
• Natsuki Yajima

Photo credit: Little League Baseball and Softball