Little League team completes six-run comeback in extra innings to avoid elimination, a breakdown
What Happened
In an elimination game at the Little League World Series, the South Carolina team finds themselves trailing their South Dakota opponents 6-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning. Despite the seemingly insurmountable deficit, the South Carolina players refuse to give up. Lead-off hitter Owen Pham draws a walk, putting the tying run on base. The next batter, Jaxon Kuchta, rips a double down the line, scoring one run and bringing the game to 6-2. The South Carolina crowd erupts in cheers, sensing a potential comeback. With runners on first and second, South Carolina's number 19 batter steps up and laces a line drive over the center fielder's head, plating another run to make it 6-3. The players and fans alike are fired up, believing they can complete the rally. After a pitching change, South Carolina loads the bases with a pair of walks. Cleanup hitter Cade Blackmon, described as the best hitter on the U.S. side, comes to the plate with the game on the line. Despite the umpire warning him to back off the plate, Blackmon stands his ground and battles through a tense at-bat. On a 3-2 pitch, he watches ball four sail high, forcing in another run to make it 6-4. With the bases still loaded, the coach's son steps up to the plate, locking eyes with his dad down the third base line. The pitcher's funky delivery gives the batter trouble early, falling behind 0-2. But on a 2-2 count, the young slugger slices a single to right field, driving in two runs to tie the game at 6-6. The South Carolina dugout erupts in euphoric celebration as they complete the improbable six-run comeback. The players throw their helmets and jump for joy, savoring the thrilling victory that staves off elimination. Even the defeated South Dakota players, though disappointed, show sportsmanship by consoling their opponents. As the South Carolina team piles on the hero of the game, the emotional reactions of the parents in the stands capture the pure joy and pride of the Little League World Series experience. It's a moment that embodies the spirit of the tournament - where anything is possible, and dreams can come true, no matter the odds.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentyou got this believe in yourself breathe smile okay have fun let's go you gotta love the little
league world series we got an elimination game between two souths dakota and carolina
dakota's up five runs bottom of the seventh there's a runner on second base and there's
soon going to be another runner on first base because we've got a walk for the south carolina
team they toss their bat they get the first it's raining in pennsylvania we've got a pitch with
some slippery grips next batter comes up one one pitch fastball kid turns his hips nicely sends it
down the line fair ball the hat flies off he picks it up and holds
something
okay so now we've got a six to two ball game with runners again on first and second
one run comes in next batter comes up number 19 and he gets a one one fastball and sends that
over the center fielder's head so another run's gonna score maybe two no just one the crowd is
going crazy yeah he loves it bring on the rain coach he says now's the time let's go
ted lasso we gotta believe right now it's a great tv show you should watch it someday
it's not a word listen believe believe hey believe all right we scored five runs we can hit this kid
and we can hit him hard let's believe okay let's go let's go let's get out of it believe ted lasso
still changing lives two runners in scoring position tying run at the plate three run lead
and they've got a new pitcher in who's got a funky delivery a little chasen shreve if he
was a righty like really coming around the side there two and one oh up and in at his head that's
gonna look like he was behind him the whole time drops another strike in three and two mom is
noivous the three two another up and in another walk another bat discarded fans are cheering
parents don't have to go back to work they get to continue hanging out in pennsylvania bases loaded
and we
got ball one ball two ball three and ball four that brings in another run that discards another
bat with style boom six to four this is the best hitter in the entire tournament on the u.s side
and he stands way on the plate like way on the plate which i don't know is a good matchup for
the way this kid pitches oh and two umpires like hey buddy hey kid hey pal hey hey back up come on
let's have some decorum oh two pitch
stays alive and now they go with four curveball of some sort and that is a beautiful pitch he wants
to crowd the plate jam them inside gets the strikeout double high five single high five look
at this pitch curveball just drops it in he recognizes it's going to be a strike tries to
foul it off can't next batter comes up takes ball one takes ball two takes both no they got the
strike how about takes ball three takes ball four that walks in the fifth run that's the first run
they're one run away from tying this game up and the coach's son comes to the plate looks at his dad
look at that look he gave dad down the third baseline says yep let's do it pop here we go
base is juiced winning run on second funky pitcher on the mound drop strike one and coming from
behind your butt now he goes breaking ball he's oh and two on the batter up high i like the pitch
they want it they don't get it and then the two two they stay with the fastball he slices it to
right oh the right fielder can't come up with it one run scores the winning run the comeback is
complete the kids from south carolina did it what a swing from the coach's son here's the pitch
foreseam grip inside out just slices it eyes open big is it going to fall is it going to fall and
just had a
enough slice to get out of reach they score they win the helmets get thrown they're jumping and
screaming it's the little league world series it's as joyous as respectful as pure as you can get
it's such a fun time the moms in the crowd are going nuts can't believe it down five in the
final inning of elimination game they rally back and they celebrate and they
own the game and they win the game and they win the game and they win the game and they win the
game and they win the game and they win the game and they win the game and they win the game and they
almost unfortunately celebrate on top of the kid who's sad who lost which wasn't i'm glad they
stopped someone said we stopped and then the best hitter he comes over and he consoles me hey man
it's all right hey blah blah blah whatever you're saying it's nice and that's the spirit of little
league world series and then the parents are crying let's go southeast and then look at this
father-son moment also just just bring it on bring on the feels look at this love you so much
son love you dad great job