The Little League World Series is a collection of the best youngsters from around the world, but one player shined brightest on Wednesday.
Davey-Day Rijke of Curaçao was absolutely dominant on the mound, striking out 15 in a 7-2 win vs. Nicaragua in an elimination game. That’s more than two batters per inning, because Little League games only last seven.
Rijke also contributed at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
It wasn’t the first time Rijke shut down the opposition: He struck out another 14 batters on Aug. 17. In 12 1/3 innings pitched so far in the 2022 tournament, Rijke has 31 K’s.
Rijke’s efforts helped Curaçao, representing the Caribbean region, reach the International semifinals against Mexico on Thursday. The winner of that game will face Taiwan in the International final for a chance to face the top team from the United States in the championship game.