Mexico vs Japan: Little League World Series 2015 Schedule, Brackets & Championship Preview
Just two countries, Mexico and Japan, remain in contention to win the 2015 Little League International World Series. The two countries may be more than 6,000 miles away from each other, but they will face off on the same field on Saturday afternoon.
Mexico opened their title run with a 1-0 win over Canada. Gerardo Lujano was credited with the win in that contest for Mexico. Unfortunately for Mexico, they lost to Japan in the second round of the playoffs, 2-1. Despite that disappointing loss, Mexico was not completely eliminated. They were however regulated to the losers bracket, where they dominated Australia 14-3. That dominating performance continued with an 11-1 win over Chinese Taipei and an 11-0 victory over Venezuela. Because Mexico won the losers bracket, they automatically advance to face the winner of the winners bracket.
Wouldn't you know it - Japan would be that team. After wins over Mexico and Chinese Taipei, Japan narrowly defeated Venezuela in extra innings, 5-4, in the third round. Japan has won nine Little League World Series titles, the second most of all time behind only Taiwan, who has an incredible 17. Japan is just two years removed from a championship, having beat California in the finals in 2013.
Which brings us to the next stage.
The winner of this international game will play the United States champion for the World Championship. The World Championship game will be played on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 3 p.m. EDT. Pennsylvania and Texas are the final two remaining United States squads left. They will play each other on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 3:30 p.m. EDT. Mexico and Japan will face off in the international title game on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 12:30 p.m. EDT.
It's also important to note that there will be a third place game held on Sunday at 10 a.m. That contest will feature the losers of the international game and the United States game.
All four remaining games will be played at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. They will all be shown on ESPN.
Mexico last won this tournament in 1997, when they defeated California. Their last appearance in the finals was in 2008, when they lost to Hawaii. Mexico has three Little League World Series championships, the most of any Latin American nation. Venezuela is the last Latin American country to win the entire competition, when they did so back in 2000 over Texas.
Mexico's offense has been on fire lately, scoring 36 runs in their last three games, but Japan did beat Mexico in the second round. This should be a great game, with the winner advancing to the World Championship game.
Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1
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