Japan vs Italy 2019 Little League World Series Baseball

summertime day in Williamsport it's day two of the 2019 Little League World Series in our matchup on the international side a traditional powerhouse yeah they are so tense before their first game here in Williamsport the team from Japan and the underdog kids from Bologna Italy a country that is still learning about baseball and it would be something if they could challenge Japan here on day two of this Little League World Series Part A Little League International 60 team modified double elimination tournament the kids are between 10 and 12 years old we play six inning games on a field two thirds conventional size their minimum mandatory play rules every kid gets into every game this is day two we have one game yesterday Curacao was really impressive we've had two excellent performances already on day two Virginia a combined no-hitter against Rhode Island on the US side South Korea they pitched well but they especially swung the bats kid to whose nickname is the Korean eagle the second home run we've seen on the international side and the South Korean players were enjoying every minute of their win over Venezuela and as we speak up in llama tee Minnesota leading Kentucky back on the US side by a two-to-one score we'll keep you posted on that game as we go along here from volunteer which is filling up on this summertime afternoon on the US side of the bracket so one winner already everybody playing their opening round games today because of the weather yesterday Louisiana Hawaii New Jersey Oregon's still become on the international side of the bracket we have a matchup already set for Sunday morning and it's gonna be a really good one Curacao and South Korea Japan Italy the winner of this will play the winner of Mexico Canada on Sunday afternoon hi everybody Dave Fleming Kyle Peterson we did the first game together we needed some help for game big time Jessica Mendoza our great to have her with us for Japan and Italy Kyle we'll start with you and on the Japanese side are we right to think that again this year this is one of the favorites entering the Little League World Series you got to think that every year just based on what they've done if it is Japanese team it's the third time this little league has been here to the Little League World Series in Japan's played in five of the last nine Little League World Series titles the other thing about this team is you know that the Japanese national tournaments gonna be hard every year they outscored their opponents 37 to 1 so they're coming in here hot you know that there's somewhat comfortable being in this environment they've had to wait a few days to get back out there we know we're gonna see defense and we're never gonna see kids they can make plays all right so jess on the other side of things we know the tradition of Japan on the baseball side how about Italy fun there's been so much talk about the growth of the game and that's what we've seen from the major league baseball side from the Little League side and when I think about the part of the world that has seen the most growth it needs the most growth it's the Europe Africa region this team from Italy you're gonna see a ton of smiles a ton of heart and guys a lot of motivation to continue to grow the game not just in Italy but all of Europe this this team representing a huge part of the world is trying to really take that next step yeah I think it's a good point you got a group of kids on that Italian side who really love this sport it'll be a challenge though up against the Japanese team opening round matchup Japan and Italy first pitch coming up next of about the international side of the Little League World Series how far all of these teams have to travel to get to Williamsport a combined 36,500 36 miles travel to get here for the 2019 Little League World Series the team from Japan Teahupoo city part of Tokyo on of the biggest cities maybe the biggest city in the world a great baseball tradition let's meet the kids from Teahupoo city brought to you by Office Depot this skit I said sure I'll tell you the extension is booking on the money box against get is skein am with you I smile it is Pokemon the rival scene onnu this ski like yoga sounds to this open on the my or customer either this skin Akashi hua tera thanks to this walking on the white wall you nobody to this Skinner says she walk can I come on this whooping under my walk little skin I can sense your little you said she was looking on on my wall all how to do this skin up for a kiss and she will tarnish over this open on my walk mr. Boddy over here this skinny I'm gonna walk karaage this is not your this skin I sensual or tiny short hair Sanchez okay no no I knew Scotty to this oka no skill sports sensual Nishikori Curtis thank you to this it's gonna change our whole time you saw her senseless look at my PO body like this is your ask you at the river neva steak yes boku no no my walkabout you to this screen on your Q central with zero sense she days okay no no my college - it is still a joke our evidence [Music] and as you can see the boys from tofu will be very very well supported here today by a healthy contingent I would say a friends and family who have made the trip from Japan they're very excited to be here in fact all but two players have friends and family represented in the traveling contingent and you mentioned the long travel yeah something like 17 hours when you combine the airplane flight and the drive from Newark then to Williamsport plus these Japanese parents have been tell me it's really really hard for them to get time off of work during this so a special effort to get here for sure now one thing that they've been doing since they got here they're staying across the street at the Red Roof Inn they had to borrow a rice cooker from somebody locally here in town because we're all they're doing for the kids up at the Grove the Japanese player saying we don't have enough rice so the parents here even though they're enjoying their time away from work still a little bit of work not a total vacation Sebastian and the team from Japan always comes here with the intention of not just competing but winning the Little League World Series championship it's happened many times in the past the pitcher they're gonna face at the start of the game giulio be saw for the Italian team you can see this a little bit for the kids from Italy to theirs there's a fair amount of 11 year olds on this team second youngest international player 10 years old 4 foot 783 pounds go get him I love the difference in size that we see every year and for Giulio BC gets things started for Italy they call him the hamster his teammates do he says my cheeks fill when I eat a lot of food and they call me the hamster it makes sense well you know just mentioned it in our open that Italy is a country that has not fully embraced baseball and yet in the city of Bologna in this region in this little league you got a lot of kids who are passionate about this fort when a kid on the mound is one of them this team loves baseball so there may not be a love of baseball across Italy these kids on the field today are just and we'll see I mean it would be quite a story if they could somehow compete with Japan Joe Nishizawa leads off and swings at the first pitch it's a foul we are underway here on the international side I played it in a championship in Bologna and the amount of support of course for softball was unbelievable the whole town shut down the streets and it's a different level of play I mean everyone's very relaxed why wouldn't you be long spread in the dugout I'm not gonna lies it was pretty sweet it's impressed fresh prosciutto Bologna is famous for the parmesan the prosciutto the bolognaise it's kind of the culinary capital of Italy if you like fast cars they make Lamborghinis and Maseratis and Ferraris they're terrible we need some on set just to kind of show off the area would have been good sure wasn't on it you know a Maserati and some fruit though why not Scott Gustafson that was a tough ass though I will I'll defend our producer like yeah let's get a Lamborghini in the booth up the middle for a leadoff hit or the Tokyo catcher catcher hitting leadoff which we see that a lot with the Japan team often and I think it's true across the board at the little league level sometimes the best athlete is a guy who's playing the plate yeah control so much of the game here can shut down a running game we'll hey ushi football second baseman hitting second he is one of the youngest players for Japan meet the players brought to you by chick-fil-a and vo hey vows to umpires before games you see a lot of respect for the umpires for the kids from Japan he has a little baseball superstition he's a piano player and he can also bunt that was a beautiful bunt for a base hit natural combination yeah if you could play the piano you can bunt those two things always go together leadoff single for Japan now a bunt single first two on that right away run that right hand up there catch the barrel dead in that baseball and it just puts his head down there's no reason to look at it well then he does besides that everything was perfect you gotta make sure how much time do you have it's so hard to resist so two on no outs for Japan right away putting pressure on giulio bisa what I keep for Bari who is the center fielder Oh of all the countries we see here a little league and even in Major League Baseball represented I've always loved the style of hitting of Japanese hitters and it obviously starts at the youth level and just short contact hard hit get the out at second and that's all those yet put a nice play defensively by a Leonardo Phil frocked a first and third one out we watched these Italian kids take infield before the game a o where it's our first look at this team from Italy look good they look good ball was hit hard too played off to the side which is fine when it's hit that hard Leonardo is that ball got to him a little bit quicker than he thought he wasn't quite sure where to go run not the breaking ball for a swinging strike Yutaka kaiba 12 years old oh and a break for second I don't think that surprised the Italian team but when you got a fast runner at third at the Little League level it's hard to throw down to second base and avoid that runner stealing home the two keep throwing it we'll break a balls in this at-bat [Applause] wanted to the Yuto kekkai by me through it again popped up with that bright Sun no catch foul ball and Wilma Tolly those are not easy plays you got the gear you got to get turned around you look up you see the Sun and for a catcher going that way if you're going towards the infield it's hard is that baseball is going away from you at the same time to steal an out there because you get a feeling that this ball is hit on the barrel you took okay back again to the ways that one I think it hit him that's a dead ball dead ball says our home plate umpire John joy so the runners are gonna have to go back the bases will be loaded he's got the elbow guard to and I think that's what it nicked off of now that's a big league move what you see more and more and he was crowded he's on the plate watch the guard that's right there still thing he wanted him I think that he wanted to hit they were telling it on the first bases I'm good flying out here so bases loaded one out and a ball hit towards second it'll be caught for out number two [Applause] [Music] two down and Italy's one out away from getting through this top of the first inning which would be a victory unto itself we talk all the time about the first inning of the first game for all these kids who dreamed for weeks and months about being here after they qualify to get to Williamsport that's a strike to you Thomas sake we don't have the mile-per-hour but I love honestly we get excited like when we see 65 70 75 but there's also something to be said by lower-velocity especially when those nerves I mean he just talks and then their son did this breaking ball it looks like he's getting over the top of it looked like a little knuckle curve I'm not sure if it was that's tough to do with hands this small I can tell you that you can get under the hitting speed that works too and you got to think too for some of these kids from Japan probably haven't seen velocity quite like this it may take a little bit of time to adjust to it throwing strikes to I like threw he's one strike away from getting through this top of the first inning the second youngest player in Williamsport the starting pitcher for Italy and he does Wow how about that fast cars prosciutto and bolognaise and strikeouts on the mound middle of the first Italy's going to hit when we come back [Music] um yeah Italy one of the great cities in that great country the capital of the emilia-romagna region and birthplace of people Anya sausage to the University of Bologna the oldest university in the world founded in 1088 let's meet the kids from Italy brought to you by Office Depot yaojin visa a little feta Cristiano Ronaldo ciao mi chiamo please Vallarta a neoliberal preparatory pata mokemo Carranza in a group of the frito-lay CDC which Cameron are doodle frat a helmet in many baseball prefer Ito sunny Boston Red Sox Chamma Chamma Gabriella chilena la mia materia prefer DITA a Mathematica Charles analyst invited me to go to the periphery to the baseball air and judge him you know me adavi de nuit and Natori prefer Ito a Leonardo DiCaprio sow some Italian memory prefer it Oh laughs what so Kuniko Mucha melody Carlo emoji periphery telephoto Floridita sound c'mon Joanna Gregorini aramez quadruped riverita son in Chicago Cubs McHale Federico Tamburini MMOG prasarita la faccia Cunha don't worry Mickey American Rd immature prefer Ito a sushi me Chamma Chamma dermatology dirty la mia Priscilla is me Tiamo Elliott Zachary knee and my Chewbacca Cerrito at al-azhar it's pretty likable group in it the kids from Bologna Italy who will get a chance to hit here in World Series represented the Europe and Africa region they helped Tokyo chofu Little League scoreless in the top of the first inning reach sue Nishikawa 12 years old he'll start as the pitcher for Japan most excited about visiting the u.s. we can cross that off the list right now now out there little difference in size in this one two five seven hundred and fourteen pounds for the Japanese pitcher do you see the the reaction of the Italian kids when they got everything I got right there scoreless first they're pumping their fists and everybody's running out of the dugout that's a win in the front in it yes it is especially the nerves that you're gonna have Christians Marathi he looks like a hitter at the plate leaning off takes ball one history of the game yes hey lines one into left field for a leadoff single [Applause] Italy's come to play I love with his pitches to inner half big grin on first base coach almost knocked his helmet on me look more than it's a Miss it kind of leaks back over into the barrel but coming into the hands and tell you why it gets the first base hey there pump for the shutout how about your first hit the books [Music] all right so they're not intimidated by being here on the field with a powerhouse team from Japan Alessio in right turn takes strike one we got a different strike zone here this afternoon oh just warming up my voice strike one John joy from Cape Coral Florida is our home plate umpire to the pitcher they get one under the arm from shortstop to get the double play the game right there pitcher doesn't feel this when he got no chance at a double play she's not hit hard enough but watch Nishikawa on this one glove side so we're gonna make the pitch with the tongue hanging out that's important two hops back to him sets the right foot throw on the side of the bag that the shortstop can finish the double play it's not an easy one to turn two outs on one pitch right there that's well done who is the shortstop he's kind of the vocal leader the coaches say of this Italian team [Applause] just getting started here Japan and Italy okay hit the target you get a good chance to get a strike to old breaking ball we got one of those to Chicago out of pitcher and drop that went in there nicely to a two you mentioned he wanted to visit the United States most of all how mature he told us his dream is to live the American dream about that baby saw what part of that is coming true right here today one two three in the first he's off to a good start [Music] gopu City Japan part of Tokyo the world's biggest city if you take all of it and throw it together it is a massive massive place in a beautiful place as well with culture traditions modernity lights technology skyscrapers natural beauty - hosting the 2020 Olympics next year we're baseball and softball returned for the first time good points Beijing China I have a feeling Tokyo is just gonna be about the perfect Olympic host they love them some baseball shofu city little league dominated - japan region which you know is ultra competitive they outscored their opponents by a combined 37 to one in four games and now they're gonna put a run on the board here it is gone first pitch swing and a home run for Thai c-cal Iguchi one nothing Japan his teammates rush out to greet him I had the images of coaches talking to players before coming out this inning and I think the biggest thing was wait wait and wait it's gonna be slow Kawaguchi does a beautiful job great swing but watch him just wait sit back I mean he was like on a chair with that swing didn't even get out in front so much power it's amazing all you got to do sometimes just get the barrel of the ball and he'll fly his nickname tight aye aye master tight I went bye-bye not a hamster Naruto a Lada takes called strike a lot of the rightfielder he rips that one foul oh and two on the plate too and we've seen a few of the Japanese hitters and part of I think but wait and knowing that it's gonna be a slower velocity is also just a crowd knowing that you can get your hands to anything in a wada he's got his toes as close as you possibly get on the line on the plate you're all right it's that one out toward third and caught giovanni gregorini hangs on one away it's a good defense early from Team Italy right here off the end of the bat Iranian now back the shortstop was there to back in my place it's ready fundamental baseball one-nothing Japan cosmic hero Ishikawa shortstop bunts he's an excellent defensive shortstop maybe the smallest player on team Japan five feet tall 80 pounds small and I black though is hold cheap what he's get the big league attitude like to punt again and that one called a ball mom and dad are here as are so many of the families there's such a Japanese history in this event so many great teams have been here to Williamsport and there's an expectation the Little League program is just so strong an expectation of coming here and competing for one of those titles and these kids literally put in hundreds of hours together to get prepared for Williamsport that's one of the biggest things that big leaguers come and watch is they love to go see Team Japan just warming up I mean I remember just watching their baseball teams when I would go over there and look at them and in the parking lot I mean they get their powers before the game their warm-ups alone will be an hour to hour and a half was ball four almost hit he should go out to walk we said every year when you watch them just take infield and the reason that they're so good at it is because of this this is Saturday just your natural Saturday if you're Little Leaguer way gets its knock that out for two hours then hit for two hours we're gonna eat field and practice for an hour and a half little break BP cool down and stretch for a half hour but that's where I feel like they get it right pop-up tagging the throw just a little bit late good baserunning good play by the catcher of Manuel metalli like this behind home plate and this is not an easy play for young catchers to make he's got to find a baseball first so figure out exactly where it is then turn your back because the balls gonna come back towards home plate into fair territory we got to deal with shadows get rid of the mask and then spin around and try to make the throw it's a big league flip right here now we go make the play figured it out right away balls gonna come right back to mount a boy deal the shadows very much when you're behind home plate either not often but Manuel made the play nicely to down let's go runner at second and are we getting a pinch-hitter we are you tone Abba will come up and hit for Japan wearing number five we saw an Italian player say his favorite player Babe Ruth Yuto tells us his role model is Sadaharu OH the all-time homerun King in Japan you want the Williamsport book club recommendation for the day what you got please the autobiography of Sarovar or might be the best baseball book of all time really it's great that you chose read it that one hits the back stops and not playable for the catcher it's my favorite signed baseball that I have that's a good Auto series sign it yet both in Japanese and in England and what am i played in Japan Brian banks it's so playing in Japan and OH was his manager when he was over there sent me a baseball bat that one in Warren Buffett them right next to each other looks a little one hit a few more home runs than he did least on the field Warren had his own no one runs has had a little bit high two and run look at the home run on the first pitch of the inning but Giulio bisa the pitcher has a chance to keep this just a one-run game he tried to ramp up and get a little extra velocity that one got away runner at third with two down and a three ball one strike count time and are we gonna get a visit [Music] big early spot here time for chat instead none of the Priscilla Julia hey today to premium good man no knife at Sheila start posting Monticello mama said Papa just an ultra Mila personal pet iguana launcher problema adesh Cousteau Quad City battery but the solo con una stay tuned on button into difficile okay Manuel cheese non-gmo Kappa no personally avato sinister to virus in East River destra - viola desta we process monitor fethiye food eat Alejo llamo well it's just your typical going that's your message you just have thousands of people watching you including your mom but don't think about that Li but don't worry goodbye Paul just be yourself think about is watching I love it go get them let's see how that message resonated too short picked nicely and we're and out number three it worked someday better interventions right take a one-hopper too short and the any but team Japan is on the board hey Ishikawa Gucci leads it off a cliff to and it waits on it knew a guy that the Labatt Blue team Japan strikes first solo home run it's one nothing to the bottom of a second [Music] once you've cleared that hurdle it's easy to find your local league visit play Little League dot org and enter your address to find a little league of program near you Williamsport Pennsylvania the 2019 at Little League World Series a little Philly cheese steak we got some nachos I'll up those jalapenos on top and then yeah nacho cheese beautiful summertime day day two of the 73rd at Little League World Series volunteer Stadium on the international side we got a little story developing here in that Japan a powerhouse program a huge favorite not just in this game but one of the favorites coming in in this tournament the lead is just a run as we go to the bottom of the second and the team from Italy is hanging in there that's a ball should've catch your nieces are trying to call it a strike for a got in there yeah yeah a frame job why not ha Illya - Carlo took a good cut there - in one yeah I'm gonna try that when you have a really good call yeah when you just nail a home run coat right in the middle of it I'm just going to do that ah well that will come soon right and in case you're wondering that's not the umpire mm-hmm the umpire is wearing the microphone but that is our catcher trophy she's our the 2 2 pitch got him swinging [Applause] so Elia strikes out one away here in the bottom of the second see the sequence here just look too old then come back fastball fastball and finish them off with a breaking ball watch both eyes on home play both eyes on the home plate front sides taking the right where you want to go and the hands get on top of the curveball ever since the hit given up first batter was inside it was a Miss he stayed away and breaking balls it's true that's interesting the o1 pitch on the way out there that time didn't get the call and well metalli the catcher for Italy Fanning in the five spot in the order it'll pop up behind first for out number two Leonardo def rocked a the second baseman comes up we asked young Leonardo okay if you got to pick your walk-up music for the Little League World Series what would it be he told us the theme from Chariots of Fire even though his favorite band is ac/dc that's a little different style music wow that's covering the spectrum how do we not make that happen I that would have been a good move I think we don't do walk-up music here by request but just to have one eye that everybody bullies evil orders bad squid behind the tarp so nobody will get it for now it's Owen - no wait got him with the foul tip ha ha 1 dumping Japan leads everybody enjoying themselves here in Williams for day two of this 2019 Little League World Series Japan and Italy as we go to the 3rd inning which man holding a one nothing lead Dave Flemming Compeyson Jessica Mendoza your volunteers stadium on the international side it's been a really cool game so far giulio visa is the second youngest player in Williamsport first base I was confused by the verbal cues there but I think the call was right that's a hit batter so that's base runner let's send it downstairs to Sebastian all right I got Julia's dad Pierluigi with me here first of all are you nervous oh just a little you know how's your heart doing right now it's being very very hard man I don't know if you'd care to the inning I don't really know you have represented Italy at the youth international levels playing baseball so what does it mean for you to see your son now doing the same I it's unbelievable I cannot Marillion describe the situation there the emotional to see Julia playing there and I'm very very proud of you all the team because they're very very doing something special for us so it's very very we are very proud very very proud beautiful Pierluigi thank you for the time good luck the rest of the way guys it send it back up to you all right Sebastian thank you it's always great to hear a mom or a dad how much fun it is just to see their kids get here and be here and I tell you what Pierre Luigi's kid is pitching well it's doing great I mean he's one of the smallest kids in Williamsport he's the second youngest kid he's going up against the team but a lot of people would say before you look at anybody is the favorite in the Little League World Series so far just the one run for Japan but they have something cookin here in the third two on nobody out they come in all sizes here at the Little League World Series I own Pardo for Curacao sort of tied with the giulio visa for seven and this Italian team has three of the smallest kids and three of the youngest [Applause] meet soon d chicawa who lined out his first time up drops that one up they called the infield fly rule you don't see that a lot at the Little League level so once they make that call the batter is automatically out the catch was made anyway so we've seen the slow breaking ball so far I like this one yeah what was this it's kind of a fist in right now I may just take it flip it in there and Curson stats right seeping just get yourself up doesn't matter how well I love it too because we've seen the last inning or so him giulio try to ramp up the velocity a little bit that one hit to left and it's playable and it's caught number two Elio De Carlo makes the catch he's got two different pitches that we've seen but about five different speeds and that's it's been kind of cool is he'll go and he'll pump a couple in there and then he'll purposely just take inflaton to even the hitter like look I'm taking something off of this one try to hit it I dare you he's throwing strikes on top of it shortest kid here one of the youngest kids here plant a team that seemingly is playing for the whole thing every year maybes keeps throwing strikes I was doing what he's done the whole year this is fun to watch this is the kid who hit the softball style can't get much deeper than that by the way in the outfield which I'd be back there to based on where tyshee hit the ball his first time up Oh two and OH he got two on two out from two on nobody out two on two out he likes taking English in school all three you know her you know well you rarely do you really want to walk the bases loaded but rio count well walk might not kill you here and he does walk Kawaguchi chance still to get out of the inning and maybe another pinch-hitter Kinski Seki I so Kent's gay 12 years old it's a chance to pinch-hit with the bases loaded it gets out of the way ball one that was a little extra velocity [Music] we throws a strike who's popping his glove right before he gets to throw back to them except fun right there one and two got a big leak up love bond up to that's that's no joke y'all got their new mitts when they got here and they're all using them everywhere to get a new one let's go the biggest one they have that one too sure and just over the reach of lewdly that's gonna score a run just the one that'll go down as a pinch-hit single to knock in a run it's two nothing Japan [Music] may be stung the hands a little bit for Kent's gay but he'll take it okay I just gets this one off the end of the bat I thought it was an out just snuck over the head of lugli it short this is what we're seeing a lot of a lot of off the end of the bat weaker contact except for the home run you're right basically every ball put in way other than the home run has been something quite like that we could todo another pinch-hitter wearing number six for Japan bases still loaded that's ball one [Music] right handed hitter and like so many of these Japanese players right out over the plate he pulled that one foul when Anthony Rizzo visits us on Sunday he's gonna be proud oh yeah he played in the World Baseball Classic her team Italy back in 2013 it's true III think a lot of these Italian kids will circle him as the player yeah that they would like to say hi to that's my favorite day there's so many good ones here but that one special yeah and you'll be over at Bowman field to call the Little League classic that night Cubs and pirates and that part of it is super fun and we'll we'll be there too but watching the big leaguers come here and interact with the kids at this facility there's nothing like it in the game there might be nothing like it in sports because the game itself is irrelevant is it to left and playable and cot giulio visa limits the damage midway through three it's to nothing Japan [Applause] what's your favorite thing about your team we have friends what's your favorite type of pasta spaghetti would you rather sit at a pool or on the beach on to beach where is your dream vacation yes a Christian Yelich or Mike Trout might shout you have time for any more questions no I have to practice with a valium participating in that Elia Zachary nehe and Team Italy playing a team Japan early a centerfielder 12 years old like every 12 year old in the United States his favorite song is I've heard that one a few times yeah it just a few times this summer and we will see him in this game at some point it's two-nothing Japan bottom of the third a game that a lot of us thought well this could be lopsided you got all the tradition in the history and the practice time and the talent of Team Japan and a team in Italy that has a hard time put together a team it's amazing talking to their manager about his feelings about baseball in his country yeah well and how much he wants to see the support grow within the town of Bologna in the region of Italy it's huge but overall country and even in Europe he wants to see more people talking about baseball supporting baseball not just the higher levels but here at the youth level we were talking about this yesterday with Curacao and just how the growth of baseball and when you talk to the folks from Curacao a lot of a coincides with when their teams started coming here to Little League World Series and it's true you get more eyes on the game more kids have started to play obviously there's plenty of guys in the big leagues from that Island and you would hope some of that happens in Italy as well they see some of the kids from the school on TV kids from all in town on TV and more just want to play well even Major League Baseball committing to going to London two years in a row and a lot of people think great that's great for London it's great for England I was there there were so many people from Italy Germany Belgium Holland all over Europe and I think that's what changes it also is is bringing I mean Ron Washington who's the third-base coach the Atlanta Braves went over and did a clinic in Italy and in fact the Italian coaches talked about how much they learned from that oh they use YouTube they talked about that you get a lot of our instruction by going onto YouTube and getting instructional videos and just showing our players you get a game and ballon right yeah that's good a big league game over the KP and I will be there yeah just for wouldn't show up if you want we're gonna doing one to Gabriella Serena I love it there it's one of my favorite countries and places within Italy to see to mom is trying to watch film record send back home text he's at the plate right now the ground ball cutting over from sake for out number two alright Jess this is gonna make you wish another trip was pending does that look familiar to you yes and it's so country I mean that's the thing that stands out he'd being there playing there it was very hard to focus actually on planes O'Hara I'm shocked to hear that yeah I want to go there although I'm telling you that it's so laxed you'd show up twenty minutes before a game it's totally mice it sounds like flappers you don't let out totally yeah twenty minutes you got there about seven minutes before so you're on Bologna time yeah I was I was just trying to play up to the crowd I like it here's our pitcher he hits one on one quick hop to first for out number three onto the fourth we go Italy hanging in there - nothing Japan leads Williamsport proper BB&T ballpark at historic Bowman field one of the oldest ballparks in America first game was played in 1926 Williamsport grace and the buck now baseball team but now just a few miles down the highway the Class A Williamsport cross cutters have called Bowman field home since 2007 favorite favorite game that we do that's your know what I'm game I love it cuz we're we're in the stands and what there's like 2500 I mean there's not a lot of you know for a major league game and they're all kids they're all Little League players it's such a great feel and even for us it is a booth we don't have a booth it's like a table we're sitting behind a home plate like how cool is that yeah and not only do you not care you prefer it to be that way we're talking about a to new pitcher on the mound for Italy Federico Tamburini right there I never lose I win or learn like that how good is that well right there but the fact that all 16 teams get to go on the field of a major league game that's I don't care where are you from or what happens to rest your life you will not forget that move over Vince Lombardi we got a new poster Federico Tamburini is wondering well how come we're not starting we have enough players on the field huh look at Francesco did he not signal in that there's a new pitcher is that what we're waiting for [Music] they didn't want to come out just argue in his case I like it so save your little pieces started the game take was ready to be done yet take the motivational poster off the wall for veteran now that is huh well we're just gonna have to roll with it sometimes you just got to say okay it's part of the game plan plan to psych them out okay with it yeah batters are now prepping for Tampa Tamburini no that's maybe that's what it was the switch and Julio's done a great job north in England this baby by a third time through now for the lineup for Japan Joe this is how I catch her takes ball one a single and a pop-out is special talent he could do a handstand that's hard to do now I know it's not like you're like I just got a visual of trying to see you oh yeah I do before every game that's your pre visual yeah everybody's got a different way for parent that's how I do it I would pay money Kyle to see you effort a handstand that was a gymnast once yeah as soon as this game was you were gymnast yeah could we do like a second great other gyms what was your event in stem he's not lying no oh he was a short-lived career but for a period of probably a we I wasn't good that's what happened but about a week I was a gymnast could you do a handstand yeah somersault like past tense we could yeah oh yeah and Stan competition needs to happen I'll time you both hold it oh yeah don't dig for your stopwatch I think you'll be able to do that on your own all right so now we're gonna get the pitching change allora Julia scusa Laura fair Mona Oh - no never VPO per quality of even cambiado poi qualcuno date okay - una regula que yo no no capito enesta meant a mani perlier moeldoko okay que no receive ama dissolver a a obligatory cha / cooverman data Ferragamo quick adesso vienna jus de VAR DN a jew DeCarlo - Vasu kerosene instra is borlotti olestra okay so I think we have a change on the mound - anyone on the mound twenty-one on the mound we got a few changes in the outfield as well and so we'll get that sorted out Giulio bisa did a great job for Italy it's the fourth inning it's two nothing Japan pitching change and we'll be back right after this so Giulio bisa three plus innings on the mound 58 pitches thrown he would be eligible to pitch again on Monday for Italy - nothing Japan in the top of the fourth and a pitching change and not the only change it is number 21 Federico Tamburini 10 years old one of those three Italian players who are among the very youngest kids here in Williamsport it's another admirable thing about this Italian team that is learning baseball trying to hang with a powerhouse program here their first game in Williamsport and they're doing it so fun to be the underdog though kids here have fun but when you know there's no expectation well I mean teams that have come from Italy have lost 11 straight and so as much as you can look at that as you're defeated before you even show up you could also see it as into it it's got fun first inning for the first thing to get out of the first it's scoreless and and they were fired up just like they they won the Little League World Series championship after a half inning first guy that ballgame gets a hit it's good all around and they're hanging with them and that's how they got here I mean they beat the Netherlands won nothing very close game and just kept it like this able to win a game by a run we should COBOL the hitter bunts it Tamburini off the mound it will be no chance for a play there was nobody covering there was also a little confusion between the pitcher and the catcher and it was a good one guys you know so much of the experience here in Williamsport is what happens on the field but really a lot of it is what happens up in the Grove where the kids stay I was talking to the Italian team before this game started they're just loving it they said I got a healthy ping-pong rivalry going already with the team from South Korea the center fielder les Ewing good night though he told me is the best ping-pong player on the team there are some rumbles his teammates will have to confirm that the opposite side of that is this Japanese team they were tell me they just hit the ping-pong tables for the first time last night obvious question why the not so obvious answer at the Little League World Series homework every night right after dinner the whole Japanese team will go back to their dorms they'll do at least one if not two hours of homework again you gotta say why I talked to one of the assistant coaches guys listen to this he told me they are getting daily calls from the principals at these kids respective schools to check in on how that homework is going you serious already I think for some of the little leaguers on the US side as school is starting now like right around this week part of the big carat of winning some games to stay here as long as you can or flying blind here this is don't show up for the first day you can't have homework [Applause] this is oats are for it's a pretty good excuse if you're gonna miss school yeah I was planning a tune on the television you can see that too Mendoza was talking about me sorry about it now one hits the batter so that will load the bases if you're gonna get a hit that's not the worst way you toka kaiba cleanup hitter comes up with the bases loaded and nobody out a chance for Japan here to open this game up pretty good cut I think if you're gonna be the cleanup hitter and we asked you what your favorite food is you should say steak which is yeah makes sense what that's not like a Wagyu beef though major Japanese stylistic true it means something different there solid line drive hit that will score two runs and on the throw taking second base that should be a double fork Aqaba there's a couple of rib eyes for nothing Japan flag you realize to play off your point it's best kind it's hard to beef up in the zone then move the bottom half very much and with those Outfitters playing all the way back respecting respecting the power of kookaburra right there it's a double drives in two more Cosima comes up in hits here second and third still nobody out we ask you to do you have anything else but you know we finished we're talking to these kids you know what's your favorite food your favorite videogame what baseball player do you like to watch anything else you'd like to share with us you too said a song and I think he started singing I like me too you ask an open-ended question you get all kinds of answers you know the butterflies are going for him this is his first at-bat in Williamsport a bunt now like a safety squeeze nice play for the out at first base by the pitcher Federico Tamburini but it scores a run five nothing Japan team had definitely bought the dude a lot almost every hitter in this lineup his atleast shown it he does a nice job of getting it down a third base side the pitcher tamburini only play was the first base so one out runner at third three runs are in here in the inning now and that's ball one Federico's trying to mime those pitching mechanics he wants to get it right out there favored part of Little League hitting this right here he's a hitter makes sense in the right field for an RBI single and just keep on running I swing good speed six nothing we will also at some point here in Williamsport see him on the mound number 18 is often the number of honor for a top pitcher in the Japanese professional leagues or even at the high school level where they take baseball so seriously so number 18 usually even in Little League he's given to the kid who is either the best pitcher throws the hardest so we're gonna see him pitch at some point here in this tournament we're gonna see this kid just swing it he's already hit a home run and walked did two trips to the plate he didn't even move in the batter's box between pitches he's just like are you ready to throw another one I mean just stays right there I love it you can move no more priest stance a little get it I look down just right there doesn't move his feet and there's like a little psychology just wanna hit yeah just it's me another one this was his first at-bat of the day back in the second inning and I love how he just sits back I mean just then ease and ice mention earlier flem how much I love the style of hitting of Japanese players but when the power comes with it a simplicity of just getting to contact and the little oomph behind it not a huge swing but I just love their their mindset but also just the different style that they have that's why as you said for the big leaguers who come here on Sunday before the Little League classic one of the things that when you talk to them they all say is I want to watch the Japanese players either play or at minimum I want to watch them take infield in field - - that one is hit to left center and a running diving catch what a play Christian's for Lottie a heck of a play out number two had a boy he was so deep to start on the warning track on he's all smiles but watch the jump he gets I mean he's deep he's back he comes in on this one gets down on his knees holds on and this one kind of gets to his left it looks like it might have snuck out oh that's how you sell it you see it right at the last minute that's it I think it hits the grass no it didn't hold on if it did who cares you got it oldest I got that's a veteran move right there now they may look at it again I think the Japanese coaches were asking the umpires to take a look it came out it's all right I still like the point it's a great effort and honestly the cell at the end yeah because if we didn't have cameras no one else is gonna see that I put the double star next to the play just keeping score can I keep that there even if they overturn this yeah did you actually do it this time you said you did that in the first game look at that hidden does that count yeah no we're getting better at writing the things you said uh-huh honesty it's that's the best policies actually just it gets better as the day goes on all right so the umpire is saying no catch I believe you know what I think what they're saying is that's not reviewable okay well again I said this in our previous game we have some sympathy for the umpires because sometimes it does take a while look these are Little League umpires so what's reviewable what's not reviewable yeah force outs tags on base pads miss bases yeah count so Jackie told you I have a fan is there lot C man yeah it's all about the cell though he sold it hard I did that a few times especially in the outfield I mean there's no cameras no one else can see it up in the air reenacted a couple times for your friends are you scheana will hit for Japan so scheana we got another pitching change huh so they snuck that by us while we were thinking about was it reviewable was it not reviewable this was beautiful by the way and it's because of the pitch count so yeah 20 pitches right here they want to make sure that everybody's fresh for tomorrow but it it looked like you're right up the street playing Sandlot like on the mound looked at the second baseman just pointed at him they switch spots he flipped in the ball and off they went and we watch the dados beautiful we should almost make that a requirement that's right we do that Major League Baseball would make a lot of us happy no walk out slowly to the mound have a conversation I'm running then make the signal hey you you're in so like Clayton Kershaw yeah I'm done I'm gonna point out to Wolfman yeah come on in variety the international brackets we've had two winners already Curacao and South Korea both were really so impressive in their opening round wins 11 nothing 10 3 2 ban in Italy the winner in this game will take on the winner of Mexico and Canada that comes up a little later this afternoon 5:00 Eastern this is the this is a move we love this is so great right yep yeah here we go and go get them we're just gonna switch it up bad as efficient as you can be right there that's great so Leonardo till Friday will be the new pitcher twelve years old and now we'll get that pinch-hitter you Sheena teammates sometimes call ryu rice ball we asked him riceball huh he goes well it's because my cute face [Laughter] you know I'm in on that that's cute chance to hit here and the top of the fourth inning four runs are in for Japan so what was a very close game has been opened up a little bit still a ways to go so he Otani choking up that's like a good 3/4 inches on the bat if he hadn't choked up maybe the barrel hits the ball there you get it off the end of the bat I'm not telling him what to do coaching understand I always laughed like you know kids you know they want the bigger bat but sometimes the bigger bats a little too big yeah let me get the bigger bat so you feel good but then you're gonna choke up so yeah I suppose we'll be a wild pitch doing too [Music] whoa [Music] that's ball apparently and it's a water so two on two out and the shortstop because a hero she chicawa will have his second at-bat of the game it's cool to see on all the bios how many players for obvious reasons look up to show hey Otani the two-way player who's not pitching this year because of Tommy John surgery but plays for the Angels just thinking gosh how cool I know we haven't seen an American League come in here because the Pirates and the Phillies have been the two hosts of the Little League classic but to see the angels show up when Japan is here and I mean Otani who is a rockstar a rockstar in Japan how cool that would be you know that's a good idea I think that that's a point I made just in time for out number three well next year we're getting the Orioles and the Red Sox to come here maybe in a future year Mike Trout Shohei Otani aims to be a good choice whatever you saw okay you I will get to work on that game most of the way through giulio visa really did a great job one of the smallest one of the youngest players of any player here in Williamsport he was tremendous on the mound Japan's got a lot of talent and have had a lot of good at-bats so Italy's got some work to do we did have a replay review at the end of that top half of the inning top of the fourth so we have a little break here before we get to play in the bottom of the fourth inning so the team from Italy the teams from Japan waiting to take the field once again let's get one of those 21 questions with one of the kids from Japan sotto sheets monitors anything in this car hey Joe masamori Tanaka Thank You Josh so today todo Honda mio hey she I got a warrant or nanny what haven't I in this car over the tip is this Enoch Yoko Skynyrd on sua nan desuka the sky kikiki de ichiban et Tai Tokerau WA doko desuka Roger a destiny Mike Cottrell toga Christian Garret you are Mike Saturday Mike stood out to no money on is that there [Music] great job by one of the power hitters on Team Japan you toka Kiba favorite athlete Ichiro Suzuki doesn't matter what language doesn't matter what kid around the world you ask the question what's your favorite subject in school you get a lot of PE lunch we love the kids participating sooo Nishikawa who's done a good job before Japan 12 years old still on the mound for the bottom of the fourth inning 6-nothing japan lee it's this is the top of the order again so now the second time through for Team Italy I got your first at-bat out of the way maybe get some of those nerves out had a good one singled back in the first he said to the highlight plays for Italy adding the catch in left-field and sell job smile after hacking that first at-bat to nice singled left-field they are shallow it takes a swing that's for sure kids me too Oh kid cheated okay showed Italy's defense how back on the warning track in Japan way in what he hit the ball hard his first time up he gets into one that could be a problem for those outfield yes that one he found the hole how about that he's 2 for 2 going the other way smiles all around for Christian in this game wouldn't have a day now I'll get a knock the first time up then you do this seen this a few times on TV right now spin hide it hold it up yes I did but see that's part of the talent right there I mean he pitches it off the side a little slide move sees a sneak out hides it behind his body along the way yes I did I mean I got two boys like you guys have kids that's how many times have you seen that smile when you got away and I got away with something yeah who's that and now I'm having a hard time is that some coloring in the hair green you think that's from the pool looks like highlights it's chlorine too much full time up at the grill Dave Flemming Jessica Mendoza Kyle Peterson I don't know about you but I'm enjoying this game and I look it's the total contrast game team Japan with all the history the tradition the pressure the role models these kids from Italy have almost none of that and yet they're out here going toe-to-toe with them and they did right from the beginning I mean that's the thing I credit so much better you know four foot seven coming out there and a couple times just slow pitch style try to hit it and that's kind of been their mentality is we're gonna try everything even sneak a little play in left field to try to make a kill and you could tell they're having a blast and they had a blatte enough for a blast in the first inning go scoreless first first guy the game gets a knock everybody smile and haircuts are cool I mean it's just uh uh they're looking the part and that's that's fun to see and it's what you said Jess right from the start Italy is a country that has not fully embraced baseball but this little league in that town of Bologna has sort of fallen in love with the game and these kids are trying to be the first trying to be the group that helps spread a love of baseball in that beautiful country that Dave and then all of a sudden they win some games that get some attention they get some press back home and the next you know it spreads and the game spreads and and that's really what it starts and it starts at this level yeah I win against Japan that would that would be a step in the right direction let's learn a little bit more about Italy with Sebastian downstairs you know it's a good question you guys asked these kids grow up in Italy baseball obviously not the priority they're like where do they get their inspiration we haven't seen Tyler do the runs set yet we should see him here pretty soon as a pinch-hitter his inspiration is his older sister Sophia she's here she actually started playing baseball like ten years ago on the recommendation of a teacher at school Claudio's two or three at the time of course like every younger said that he wanted everything his sister was doing he'd go to her games as a struggle just to keep him off the field and then they drive home and Claudio would beg Sophia to play catch in their garden Sophia was obviously more than happy to oblige and she's living it up here in the front row watching her brother what a great story that is I love the influence of sisters brothers but even I mean Maddie fracing playing baseball just came over from Minnesota doing that game talking about her I talked to her parents and I mean you're just the growth but what I love is that the boys I was asking teammates about having a girl on the team you think about Claudio and his older brother Sofia just not even noticing gender and that's what is so big at this level it's like can you play sweet let's go let's go you're on the club yeah you know one thing that I think is going on here it's 6-nothing Japan so we do have a ten run rule which obviously won't come and play in the bottom half the Italian half of this fourth inning but I do think that they're trying to convey the mandatory play rules depending on your roster size everybody either has to bat once or everybody's got to play six consecutive defensive outs and at bat once in the case of Italy everybody's got a bat once at least 14 kids on the team - so you go through the lineup once and then your leadoff hitters Pilate who hit in the first so you've had nine guys hit so far ten times through so message might be that we got to get a few kids up there to hit that haven't done it yeah and I think that's a good message and whether or not the rules are a little nuanced or what some of those kids their five kids for Italy but still have to take in at bat Elia Zachary nee will be one of them [Music] I think he's gonna hit right here Francesco watts a word first all right right by the home plate on fire don't want to talk to you all right so he'll go out and coach third Zachary nee will be the hitter and it's a good rule it's part of what we love about Little League every kid's got to play in every game shouldn't have to be a rule shouldn't have to be but it is it's good that it isn't only a bunts it kind of bunted it hard good foul another bunt and another foul so against this new pitcher you toca Kaiba we just heard from with our question segment Yuto as you could tell not real shy he's got a big personality Oh got the call strike three [Applause] I'll take it [Music] [Applause] says Utah so now Alex G open Rd will have his first at-bat of the day Alex looks pretty locked in [Applause] [Applause] one in one two hits for Italy both from the kid who's standing at first base Christians for a lot ty2 and one thing about the inexperience of the baseball community in Italy and these kids sort of carrying the flag for Italian baseball there can't be a lot of competition for these kids where they face pitchers throwing like this I think bilasa T is the hardest thing to velocities the hardest thing to recreate at this age if you just don't have that many kids that play the game they've handled it okay today they strike three the hitter is out but spare Lottie manages to dash his way into scoring position so he's at second without two outs [Music] sometimes these teams and I think Italy told us this - a few days ago that some of the older kids who've gone through the program will come back and practice with them as they get ready for Williamsport just to try to get some bigger stronger kids throwing some of that velocity better Rico tamburini who came on to pitch and now will have his first at-bat trying to knock you in a run I win where I learned oh and - that is a great little motto yes to understand that at age 12 to crazy ah I got the call there on the outside corner for strike three take the ball place it on the mound run back to the dugout yeah and you can smile to six-step thing to band through for book Twitter and Instagram if the official handles at Little League follow the action and join the conversation with hashtag LLWS Little League World Series probably lots of Instagram to pictures of that is that Italian ice could we call it that with team Italy playing against your ban here [Laughter] Italy has really competed with Japan here it's a six nothing game now but what on paper was supposed to be a lopsided matchup maybe the most lopsided matchup of this opening round of the Little League World Series in Italy has acquitted itself very well still two innings to go Japan's offense came to life though in the fourth inning and he kind of figured it was a matter of time Joe Nishizawa leadoff hitter who's been on base two different times has scored a run he's the catcher he bats leadoff one in one another catcher that we know and like David Ross just came over to say hi here at volunteer very social it was nice it gave us a little rundown of how the game up at lammott he went that one's over now Minnesota has beaten Kentucky 2 to 1 very competitive game I look it's still so early two more games on the US side after this one one more game on the international side just for the opening round but I do think that theme that we talked about right from the top yesterday is true more defense a little less power over home runs maybe that means tighter closer games that can change as the tournament goes on pitching wears a little thin - which was fun that one hit him but also he was starting to swing and I think they were just gonna say hit by pitch if you swing and you get hit the swing Trump's the hit by pitch but only if you break the plane or the rule of a full check swing the key held back I'll tell you what though that we're talking about the elbow guards Japan wins as far as the enormity protections like that entire arm guard Jolene Ava's wearing a big one in knee and you'll see from team team Japan more players that throw right-handed but hit left-handed they switch around a lot of their hitters at a young age and that makes sense to me and it makes sense to protect yourself no matter what but when it's your throwing arm and you're on the left side [Music] you got to protect that nerve on that that elbow that one hit on one hop toward third with a ricochet I think a smart no throw by Tamburini the shortstop [Music] so two on no outs come stai bari that squirt is a hit by the way but from the third place hitter and a really good one heads-up play by Serena the first baseman just to make sure that runner coming around third wasn't thinking about dashing for the plate he was not maybe he was thinking about it but he didn't once he realized the first baseman was paying attention we are to the bunt and this is where you dead and KP I saw you talking earlier in the game about getting that hand up in the right position but to be able to also make contact on the end of the barrel instead of right on the heart of it yeah like that the ball will fly right in the sweet spot two runs are gonna come in on that base hit so you took a K by two more runs batted in he's got four of them in this game it's eight nothing at Japan and let's go downstairs to Sebastian guys the Little League World Series is a big deal you never know who you're gonna find I found Ali's a Johnson forward for the Indiana Pacers what are you doing here just hanging out I'm from here hometown so I always like to get out here and you know see the talent you obviously grew up here you've seen this event were you one of the kids running around that we see now oh absolutely it's a big deal here you know I slid down on the hill a couple of years ago I'm hung out here past couple of times I've been able to just it's just enjoyable you play any baseball growing up I did not play any baseball I'm not really good at it so I skip that and just you know continue to play bit basketball obviously the basketball choices worked out well for you but when you see all this any regrets about not playing baseball I'm a lot to regret because you know there's a lot of people here you know watching these kids you know their faces are important to everybody so I wish I did play baseball see you got the team Caribbean Jersey who you rooting for do you have a rooting interest I'm not ruining for anyone I just went a story picked out this and I would like to go there at some point in my life you know we're the visitors here from ESPN so we're not the local community we don't we don't feel what it's like when everybody comes into town what does that like as a resident of this area oh it's nice you know everybody looks forward to it it's big for the city like I've said nothing really goes on much here so when everybody gets out here for luli groceries you know everybody tries to come in town I would say thanks for the time and enjoy the rest of Little League World Series appreciate that thank you well that's kind of cool yeah a local guy who's made it big enough a car though meaning hey France with the counties you know we're gonna get another pitching change it looks like for Team Italy so either we figures it out and it makes a change will step aside it's eight nothing Japan here the fifth inning we'll be back right after this a day of Little League World Series baseball on the US side on the international side this is the third of four opening round games in the international bracket Japan has an eight nothing lead over Italy the Italian team making a pitching change here in the top of the fifth Dave Flemming Jessica Mendoza Kyle Peterson on this gorgeous Williams for day and it is Christians borlotti who has sort of been the highlight maker for Team Italy he's gonna take the mound and pitch it's done everything else let's put him on a bump let's see what happens kind of Sebastian's interview with Alizee Johnson who's a an NBA player from here grew up here is back watching the Little League World Series now as a fan said to Sebastian he didn't play baseball because it's too hard he wasn't any good at it and you know what it's amazing you hear that from so many athletes that you consider the best athletes in the world to see the footage of footage of Yanis trying to take batting practice a few weeks ago make contact just watch a lot of these guys throw out a first pitch I mean - it's just the simplicity of just throwing a ball down a mound and hitting somewhere near the catcher so whatever you think about the athleticism of the highest level athletes in the world the skill of this sort it's hard we're watching 12 10 11 year-olds sometimes make it look easy well in the mentality because you're gonna fail I mean that's the thing and so many sports was that immediate immediate success and it doesn't happen in baseball so many hitters you bat 300 you're failing 7 out of 10 times how do you handle that well it's cool to see at this level I think the coaches are doing it right because so many that do fail or what they might think of as failure they still do it with a smile they're having fun they're still enjoying it they're seeing so much about the game that they can learn from well the two of you were we're both high level athletes had choices of what sport you wanted to play chose this sport and stuck through I'm sure you know even at a young age when you you feel like the best athletes are really gonna stand out it's it's just not easy Kyle was a gymnast I could what could have been the world missed out they deal on yeah it's disappointing not too many people could have seen that there's about 12 who did it was 12 too many Yuto Misaki 1 for 3 with the bases loaded and nobody out Japan trying to open this game up and I believe they just did it is a grand slam up over the centerfield wall 12-nothing Japan [Applause] pretty impressive it is you can see gripping a breaking ball right there and this team Japan F at first anywhere they left the bases loaded the offense has really started to come alive dead center right there that number 18 holds so much significance on the mound putting some significance at the plate right there two Grand Slam six runs here in the fifth inning Japan's really opened it up that one is a line drive base hit from tyshee Kawaguchi well we did figure that in the end Japan was gonna find a way to win this game it was close most of the way through these last two times through the lineup though Japanese players whether it's settled down and let the nerves go by adjusted to a different style of pitching from Team Italy whatever it is just one good at-bat after another and it has been an adjustment that's the thing that you saw early on from some of these Japanese hitters is hitting off the end of the bat trying to be patient when you see a ball that's a lot slower maybe than what you're used to which was part of I think what Italy did so well is changing speeds doing that right there what happened to our big strike zone but then Japan making that adjustment being able to to sit back a little bit more and now you're seeing the offense they've showcase to get here come alive that one to shallow centerfield that's gonna drop for a hit so now even when the Japan doesn't hit the ball particularly hard they're finding spots still nobody out some I know we talked about this earlier with Italy and just how much the press and the excitement around can help grow the game I think about you know for this team you know from Japan and the Olympics being next year and that was one of the biggest things that coaches went down on the field before and they said hey we know the Olympic Games are coming to us next year and we want this opportunity to help grow it at the youth level and showcase it here in the US just how good they are from Japan it's so cool that we get baseball and softball back in the Olympics overdue should have never left guys you gotta think I mean I was a player that you grow up and the Olympics are what you watch that's you know that's that's something that you gain in it for so many of these Japanese players growing up I mean yes they watch the show head at oten ease and Ichiro Suzuki z-- but they are going to be locked in more than ever before next year to be able to see their sport in the Olympic Games and how good they are at it want to know Christian with pitch it's filed off up onto the roof topic for the biggest baseball event in Japan the Japanese World Series is huge the big league world series is huge but the Koshien high school tournament really is the biggest sporting event of the year in Japan that was where tani really came on to this day wasn't it yeah it's it's covered like like Major League Baseball Daisuke became a superstar at the Koshien tournament the country sort of stops for days and a couple of weeks I think as that tournament goes on I have so many teammates that play over there that live over there now and as a liner caught it short nice play everybody gets back so no double play two down all right so I gave my impression of this first full day and the first round of Williams where we still have some teams we haven't seen on the international side and the USA any first impressions from the two of you as we sort of get our first look at the field at large I feel like that just hasn't been a dominant team and I know Curacao did really well yesterday I know Japan now coming alive here but just coming over from Minnesota and their win and how close these games feel and for this one for a few innings it was that and that's what I appreciate is you don't want a team to come in and just dominate everyone else you want to see that parity not only across the country in the US but across the world and so many players being able to hang in there I think the opening game on the US side usually a pretty good indicator that to just outside everybody is because it's the best arms and there was a three nothing game in a one-run game so far we've got two more yet to go tonight yeah good point sometimes on the international side and maybe a game like this the coaches have a little more leeway not to use their top pitcher or two in the opening round game if the talent is at a different level on one side on the US side typically you don't have that number one maybe teams are doing a little scouting but not a whole lot of it at this level and you know there's there's a fear if I don't use my top pitchers right away you lose that opening game you're behind the eight ball right away that ball is hit down the left field side but foul three and one so anyway no powerhouse team maybe this year a lot of years it's like that maybe a little less power hitting maybe some fewer home runs I like that too a more wide open field yeah tighter games well we have seen what you see every R is defense yeah always sees three offensive plays just absolutely shocked in we've seen it we're not even through the first round of games shortstop for Minnesota state of the game yeah he was the last out of ball game what yep dive up the middle line drive and that was big-league we'll see it all over Sports Center tonight but I love it I look for the play that the Venezuelan you you were you were busy while Venezuela was playing against South Korea the play that the Venezuelan third baseman made was just awesome in our first game on the international side I was in foul territory to catch a foul ball that almost throws a guy out of home park from his knees throws a strike to home swipe tag just a fraction of a second late for a double play [Applause] strike one on the foul ball with the bases loaded Japan has scored six runs here in the fifth inning and you will not see better defense than with this country yeah of Japan will provide year after year after year it's it's something they put emphasis on I was talking about their coaches we talked about their whole Saturday practice they also they only get Monday off they practice Tuesday through Friday not for a long length of time all they do besides warm-up and cool down his tee work a defense that one maybe the Sun was a factor G of an RD was upset that he didn't catch it three runs come in to score for Japan so that clears the bases making it all the way around a third by Kiko Bari so two outs and it's now 15 - nothing Japan and who knows whether the Sun was a factor or not but a walnut could have been caught wasn't caught shadows cast that way we're gonna go with it yeah that's what I think that's a bass it he can swing it Jenny all right so you want to watch the play we were just hyping up the game and that's our Venezuelan third baseman that goes full sand and make the play guess that goes to his knees press fill the base run around it on play he thought he got him I thought he got him for a double play what's a great play he caught a missile line drive for the last I love Morgan so if I understand it please let me partner lavoro presto she met the post accapella matsukata partita altitude davis tatical to pitching coach Debbie Farah co-located each Alou non-inventory ok notice they are professional polity romanian and ya know state iran distraction a lot people camera view okay so we're not making a change just a little message from coach stay focused on the game everybody make plays I could hear him talk all day yeah beautiful language tap on the head Christian he might have a different reared enough so it's 16 nothing Japan a score that really does not reflect the way that this game has been played most of the way but on the international side the three winners now are putting up some pretty gaudy offensive numbers that's a little flair I'll be another hit for Japan Yuto Misaki he hit the Grand Slam his last time up he gets another chance to hit he's knocked in five of the 16 runs so far still to come on the international side Canada and Mexico all right another chance in rape field and another one not handled two runs will score good throw but it's gotten sloppy here in the fifth inning yeah and this one's hard to because you you look first three innings it's a two nothing ballgame and and then everything starts to spin and yep game starts speeding up a little bit you hoped you you remember the good stuff from this one because the first three innings it was a lot of good stuff for Italy a lot heck we see this at the big league level if the game starts to get out of hand the concentration wanes a little bit [Applause] Telugu Qi or strike one we have the 10-run rule and we have a 15 run rule this year in the Little League World Series but because we're in the visitors half the top half of an inning when we pass those thresholds the Italy's gonna get a chance to hit no matter what happens in this top of the fifth Japan has been playing in the Little League World Series for a long time they've had a lot of great teams this is the second most runs they've ever scored in a game ball back in 1978 they scored 25 runs in a game were you covering it back then nothing to 1 to Kabul Gucci coming hit hard to left and just beyond the reach of Giovanni in left field that's double before Kawaguchi he's got three hits [Applause] well yeah I mean you can't really blame the kids from Japan you get a bat in your hand it's a little league world series yeah you just you gotta you go ahead yep that's cool yes so cool that's one of my favorite things here is and what that just says the message how that gets passed down just nice hit your feet nice 19 nothing but that was really good swing in the day you're still playing the Little League World Series I'm you still you're still getting used to play in this environment yeah yeah it's it's still pretty good day so we are gonna have a pitching change here and Christians for a lot to use done so many good things if by all rights he would have had the final out of this inning a while ago but not to be so now a left-hander will come in and it is Gabrielle Serena so he'll be the new pitcher for Italy yeah you're reading that score right I mean it was scoreless after the first inning it was one nothing after the second inning it was two nothing after the full third inning yeah this is a close competitive game and Japan has just poured it on four in the fourth at nine here in the fifth still going so Gabriela cherina on to pitch on this beautiful summertime afternoon alright so here is our bracket up-to-the-minute Minnesota did beat Kentucky to 2-1 a walk-off defensive play right walk-off Webb announced a counselor Virginia with the combined no-hitter against Rhode Island how about that one currently over on ESPN are just getting started Louisiana New Orleans team they have never had a team represented in the Little League World Series until this year which is kind of cool Hawaii Hawaii has a tendency when they send a team to Williamsport it's a really good team stay here for a while won the whole thing last year won at all last year trying to duplicate that with a different set of kids on the ground and a diving attempt but no out the throw behind gets away Italy's just trying to find a way to get the third out of this inning maybe they can get it at third save that was close almost had it this is the one off the bat you're not quite sure how hard it's hit is right back to you if I could change it going out in the way it's a good pitch right up here great effort though full blown dive off the mound I don't see a lot of pitchers doing that maybe that was showing up so what's that now 14 runs in the inning for Japan since Kazi Hiroki chicawa this is basically two full times around the batting order in this inning or there abouts 20 runs most they've scored since 2012 in most any team has scored in a game since 2012 huh oh and two should be a big strike zone at this point shouldn't it up and roll to open it up a little bit right now I think that would be there'd be a good argument for that on the ground a second that is out number three and we ain't reviewing it Japan pours it on in the fifth inning last chance for Italy when we come back [Music] little league wants to extend a special thank you to its official sponsors like Dick's Sporting Goods and Cigna who helped to maintain the strength and leadership up the Little League program Little League would also like to thank its dedicated volunteers who make the program a special experience for millions of children all volunteers here in Williamsport part of what makes this event so great if you haven't been and you care about sports or you care about kids or you care about baseball you gotta get a check check check yeah how to get here yeah we care about all those things 14 run inning the most runs that any team has scored here in Williamsport in a long time Japan a 20 spot on the board against an Italian team that was playing them tough through the first three innings he's sort of gotten away this is the last chance here for it e italy claudio de anza will hit for the first time in the game and japan has brought it in they're trying to slam the door here get this guy Yuto Misaki where's that number 18 just pound the strike zone I have enjoyed it John joy behind home plate and the unusual hand signals our home plate umpire I don't know exactly how to describe that kind of using both does it yes all right strike three swinging pretty impressive one out we're gonna see this kid on the mound a lot more here in Williamsport I setup fastball on the outside part is 71 miles an hour right there that's the hardest pitch that we've seen over here on the internet they make kind of makes it look easy doesn't he [Music] oh and to Tommaso Mitali grazetti 11 years old off the bench here's who you got to face in your first Little League World Series at bat two down so we will come back but not here on ESPNU correct am I getting that right as you are you are David knows I just want to set everything up for Mexico Canada we expect that to be a very competitive game top of the hour 5:00 Eastern running over the other field okay so you're are you gonna participate in the broadcast that is starting now or will you be or you be joining the final game of the help I get the final okay while you guys are at dinner enjoying yourselves okay you know definitely be watching get my home state Oregon it's your new home today it felt kind of good saying that not even a month just move right off the tongue yeah I've been there for 10 days yeah home state or Coney in adopted the kids from Salem Italy down to its final strike Giovanni gregorini hitter yeah I I feel bad that the final score is not gonna reflect yeah well Italy competed in this game they did compete and I bet we'll see them compete as this tournament rolls on but Japan is most certainly a Little League World Series championship contender yeah you know every time they show up Japan's gonna bring a club it has a chance to play for a while and they showed us why tonight but Jess it was fun watching the kids from Italy especially the first three it's okay scoreless first leadoff hitter gets a few knocks layout playing left field it was fun Krishna sir Lottie will go down as my favorite player as good as Japan did Italy showing up in their leftfielder makeup at grab and cell coming in green hair pitching a little bit italy did show up yeah so what was the line we used at the beginning of the game that they loved their their Ferraris and Maseratis bridget so farmer John bolognaise yeah and they love their baseball but Japan just a little too deep and talented for the Italian team so they are in the winner's bracket on the international side Mexico Canada the final game in the opening round for Kyle Peterson for Jessica Mendoza enjoy the nightcap over on the US side thanks for coming over and being with us Dave Fleming saying so long now time for the American Legion World Series right here on ESPNU

Channel: LLWS

Views: 604,025

Keywords: Japan Little League World Series, Japan Little League, japan little league baseball, japan little league baseball 2019, Italy little league, Little League World Series Baseball, Little League World Series Baseball 2019, LLWS, LLWS 2019, Little League Baseball, little league baseball world series, little league baseball world series 2019, llws highlights

Id: h-mtD35iTR0

Length: 109min 26sec (6566 seconds)

Published: Fri Aug 16 2019