Pennsylvania walks off over Texas to reach final
Top U.S. team to face Japan, which edged Mexico
Chayton Krauss delivered a walk-off single in the sixth inning to propel Mid-Atlantic (Pennsylvania) to a 3-2 victory over Southwest (Texas) in the United States Championship on Saturday afternoon in Williamsport, Pa.
Pennsylvania advances to its first final since 1990 and will face Japan (Tokyo) in the Little League World Series Championship on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
The game set a Little League World Series attendance record as 45,716 fans packed Lamade Stadium.
Pennsylvania had run through the tournament undefeated, including a 3-1 victory on Wednesday against Texas, the only blemish on Texas' record.
On Saturday, Pennsylvania's Cole Wagner started the scoring in the first with a solo home run, his league-best fourth homer of the Series. Wagner also pitched another solid game on the mound, fanning 11 in 5 2/3 innings.
Texas briefly took a 2-1 lead, before Pennsylvania's Jade Henline added a solo homer in the fourth inning to tie the game at 2.
The game remained locked there until the sixth when Krauss delivered the heroics.
International final
Japan (Tokyo) edged Mexico (Mexicali Baja California), 1-0, in extra innings to win the Little League World Series International Championship on Saturday afternoon at Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pa.
Tokyo, which will face Pennsylvania in the final, advanced to its seventh championship in the past 12 years with a walk-off victory in the seventh inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Koki Jo grounded into a forceout at second, but Mexico was unable to turn the double play before the winning run crossed the plate.
Mexico's Armando Verdugo flirted with a no-hitter, cruising through six hitless innings before surrendering an infield single to open the seventh. Overall, Verdugo allowed just two hits and one walk and struck out 10.
Japan's Kabu Kikuchi gave up only four hits and no walks in seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts.
When these two teams met on Sunday, Tokyo came away with a 3-1 victory. But Mexico's offense had been on fire since then, outscoring opponents 36-4 during its last three games.