The Backyard Batting Cage

By Communications Division
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.
July 15, 2012

2012 World Series Media Credentials
2012 World Series Schedule
2012 Japan Tournament


Kitasuna Little League from Tokyo, Japan, earned one of the 16 spots in the 2012 Little League Baseball World Series Saturday after capturing the Japan Region Tournament. The single-elimination tournament was played in Tokyo over the last three weekends.

Kitasuna Little League earned its berth in the World Series with an 11-0 victory over Matsusaka Little League from Matsusaka City, Japan, in the championship game. The Japan Region Champions scored 10 runs in the first inning on its way to the four-inning victory.

Kitasuna Little League also raced out to an early lead in its semifinal victory over Funabashi Little League from Funabashi City, Japan, on Saturday, scoring 12 runs in the first inning on its way to a 14-4 victory in four innings. Matsusaka Little League posted a 20-10 victory over Sendai Higashi Little League from Sendai City, Japan, the 2002 World Series runner-up, to earn its berth in the championship game.

The new region champion had its closest game in the tournament in its first game, an 8-2 victory over Ueda Minami Little League from Ueda City, Japan. Kitasuna Little League won its other game in the tournament by a 10-0 score.

This will be Kitasuna Little League’s third trip to the World Series where they have a history of success. In the league’s first trip to Williamsport in 2001, it won the World Championship with a 2-1 win over National Little League from Apopka, Fla. In its return trip in 2007, Kitasuna Little League lost to Warner Robins (Ga.) American Little League in the championship game, 3-2.

Teams from Japan have won the Little League Baseball World Series seven times. In seven of the last 10 years, a team from Japan has been in the World Championship game.

Kitasuna Little League joins Asia-Pacific Region Champion, Kuei-Shan Little League from Taoyuan County, Chinese Taipei, and Pariba Little League from Willemstad, Curacao, the Caribbean Region Champion, in the Little League Baseball World Series field.

Kitasuna Little League will play its first World Series game, Aug. 16, against Pariba Little League, the Caribbean champion, at 1p.m. in the first game of the World Series.

The 66th Little League Baseball World Series, for 11-12-year-olds, will be played in South Williamsport, Pa., Aug. 16-26. Sixteen teams from around the world will vie for the coveted title of World Champion.

The World Series will use the same format as last year with the teams split into two eight-team brackets

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