For only the second time in Little League World Series history, Curaçao has taken home a title.
With a veritable offensive explosion, Pariba Little League (Willemstad, Curaçao) overcame an early deficit to defeat Paseo Verde Little League (Henderson, Nev.) by a score of 11-2 in Sunday's title game.
In doing so, the group put itself in impressive company. The team that won Curaçao's first Little League World Series championship back in 2004 produced two future big leaguers in Jurickson Profar and Jonathan Schoop.
After being set back early by Maddox Bryan's two-run single in the bottom of the second, Curaçao got right to work with a two-run single of its own in the top of the third off the bat of Shardijon De Lanoi.
They added two more runs an inning later, via an RBI double from Jaymiëll Martina, before a four-run outburst in the top of the fifth, capped off by Juriënsly De Windt's bases-loaded double. Another three runs were pushed across in the top of the sixth via a wild pitch and a passed ball, effectively sealing the deal.
The pitching trio of De Windt, Giendry Ryan and Steven Felix combined to allow just two runs (one earned) on five hits in their six innings of work, walking five and striking out seven.
For Nevada, history was made either way; in the loss, outfielder Carsynn Meyer became the first American girl to play in a Little League World Series title game. She stands as just the second all time, after Sayaka Tsushima, who represented Kashima Little League (Ibaraki, Japan) in 1998.
Despite a club from Nevada representing the United States in the final round for the second consecutive season, the state remains without a Little League World Series title.
In the consolation game, Joto Little League (Tokyo, Japan) defeated West Side Little League (Hamilton, Ohio), 3-2, to secure a third-place tournament finish.