WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- The final four teams remaining in this year's Little League World Series entered Saturday with a spot in the championship game on the line. South Korea beat Panama, 7-2, in the International title game that opened the day.
In the U.S. Championship game, New York ousted Tennessee, 4-2, setting up a championship game against South Korea on Sunday afternoon.
Saturday, Aug. 27
Game 27
Asia-Pacific 7, Latin America 2
Each team scored once in the first inning, but South Korea poured it on with five runs in the second to take control. A pair of two-run homers in the second frame, followed by a solo shot in the third, staked the Asia-Pacific Region champs to a 7-1 lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Complementing the 11-hit attack, starting pitcher Youbin Choi tossed six strong innings to lift South Korea to the championship game.
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Notable Performer
Choi scattered six hits over his complete-game performance on the mound. He struck out 14 batters and never gave the powerful Panama lineup a chance to get back into the game.
Quotable
"I started having confidence because of the players who were behind me. I was very comfortable because of my teammates." -- Choi, on his club
What's next
New York faces South Korea in the championship game Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. The International champs from South Korea enter the game with a 4-1 record.