As soon as the ball came off his bat, Curley Martha pointed to the sky — he knew that one was gone.
Curley hit a two-run homer to center in the fifth inning and got the final 11 outs as a relief pitcher, helping Curacao beat Japan 5-4 Saturday to advance to the Little League World Series title game.
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As soon as the ball came off his bat, Curley Martha pointed to the sky — he knew that one was gone.
"It was a little bit scary," Curacao manager Michelangelo Celestina said.
The Pabao Little League, with current Oakland Athletics infielder Jurickson Profar on its roster, won it in 2004.
The Japanese team came from Chofu, with a population of 230,000 — larger than the entire island of Curacao, which has 162,000 residents.
Shendrion's two-run double in the third put his team up 3-0 and allowed him to relax on the mound. He pitched 2 ? innings, allowing two runs and two hits, striking out two. He got into a jam during the third inning, but helped Curacao escape after he was moved to shortstop and Curley took over on the mound. Shendrion snagged a line drive with runners on second and third.
Japan loaded the bases in the sixth but Curley got out of the jam after a wild pitch scored two runs and put the tying run at third base. Ryohei Ushikubo hit a line drive toward the left centerfield gap, but Keven Rosina made the catch.
The Little League team from Japan lines up to salute their fans after a 5-4 loss to Curacao in the International Championship baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
"It was a little bit scary," Curacao manager Michelangelo Celestina said.
Curley and Shendrion Martinus combined to hold a Japan team that scored 32 runs in its first three games to four runs and five hits. Shendrion also contributed with his bat, providing a two-run double in the third.
The team from Willemstad fought back from a loss to South Korea last weekend, winning four straight games to reach the final on Sunday. Curacao will face either Hawaii or Louisiana at Lamade Stadium and aim for its second Little League title.
Curacao's Curley Martha (12) connects with a pitch from Japan's Taishi Kawaguchi for a two run home run in the fifth inning of the International Championship baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. (AP PhotoTom E. Puskar)
The Pabao Little League, with current Oakland Athletics infielder Jurickson Profar on its roster, won it in 2004.
Profar's youngest brother, Jurdrick, caught all six innings of Saturday's game and added a double and a pair of runs for Curacao.
Japan has won five Little League championships in this decade.
Japan's Yuto Misaki (18) and Haruto Owada walk off the field after the 5-4 loss to Curacao in the International Championship baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. (AP PhotoTom E. Puskar)
The Japanese team came from Chofu, with a population of 230,000 — larger than the entire island of Curacao, which has 162,000 residents.
"It feels like we are on the map again," Celestina said.
DOING IT ALL
Curacao catcher Jurdrick Profar, right, begins to celebrate after getting the final out of a 5-4 win over Japan in the International Championship baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. (AP PhotoGene J. Puskar)
Shendrion's two-run double in the third put his team up 3-0 and allowed him to relax on the mound. He pitched 2 ? innings, allowing two runs and two hits, striking out two. He got into a jam during the third inning, but helped Curacao escape after he was moved to shortstop and Curley took over on the mound. Shendrion snagged a line drive with runners on second and third.
MORE TEAMS
Little League officials announced Saturday they'll expand the Little League World Series from 16 to 20 teams in 2021. Cuba, Puerto Rico and Panama will receive a direct bid to the LLWS two out of three years. The Little League World Series for softball will expand from eight to 12 teams.
Curacao's Jurdrick Profar (13) slides into third base as the ball gets away from Japan's Yuto Misaki (18) and scored on the play in the first inning of the International Championship baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. (AP PhotoTom E. Puskar)
Tyler King is a journalism student at Penn State University.