Asia-Pacific Outlasts Caribbean, 4-2, To Open Little League World Series

By Justin Hawkins
justin@talkwilliamsport.com

The 2018 Little League World Series got off to a start that looked more like the MLB Little League Classic as the Asia-Pacific Region Champion; South Seoul Little League of Seoul, South Korea; defeated the Caribbean Region Champion; Radames Lopez Little League of Guayama, Puerto Rico; by a final score of 4-2 in 9 innings at Volunteer Stadium.

In a game that was expected to be a blowout in favor of Asia-Pacific, both teams would carry scoreless no-hitters into the fourth inning, with baserunners only reaching via the walk. That would all come to an end in the Bottom of the 4th inning as Eric Rodriguez and Luis Rivera came up with back-to-back RBI Singles, scoring Carlos De Jesus and Lonel Gomez respectively, giving the Caribbean the 2-0 lead through four innings.

Caribbean starter Eric Rodriguez was cruising to what was going to be an upset victory of the usual International Bracket power Asia-Pacific, but unfortunately he hit his pitch limit and had to be lifted from the no-hitter after 5 1/3 innings of work on the hill. Things quickly fell apart for the bullpen, as the next four Asia-Pacific batters reaching safely and two, Jeong Hyeon Park and Ji Hyung Choi, scoring to tie the game up at two a piece, just two outs from a potential Caribbean victory. The game would then go to extra innings.

After several chances by both teams to push the go-ahead and winning runs, Asia-Pacific would finally find the plate in the Top of the 9th Inning, as Ji Hyung Choi picked up an RBI the hard way, wearing a pitch with the bases loaded, giving the boys from South Korea their first lead of the ballgame at 3-2. Gi Jeong Kim would follow that up with an infield single to the shortstop, scoring Jum Woo Lim and pushing the lead to 4-2.

The Bottom of the 9th would see Caribbean go in order at the plate, handing them a tough 4-2, 9 inning loss to open play at the 2018 Little League World Series.

With the win today, Asia-Pacific moves on in the winner’s bracket to face the winner of Australia and Mexico on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. at Volunteer Stadium.

With the loss, Caribbean drops into the loser’s bracket and awaits the loser of Australia and Mexico for a meeting in an elimination game on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Volunteer Stadium.