California’s 2-1 walk-off victory over Japan on Sunday was one of the better Little League World Series finals in the history of the 65-year event. Where does the game rank with these memorable Little League World Series finals? 5. California 6, Taiwan 3 (2009) » Taiwan had gone 17-2 in LLWS finals but failed to meet requirements in 1996 and didn’t reach the finals again until 2009, when a team from Chula Vista, Calif., rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the third inning.
4. Connecticut 5, Chinese Taipei 2 (1989) » Teams from Taiwan had outscored their American foes in the previous three finals 43-1. But Trumbull, Conn., led by Little League World Series MVP Chris Drury, broke the spell. Drury recently retired after playing 12 seasons in the NHL.
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3. Kentucky 1, Japan 0 (2002) » Pitcher Aaron Alvey homered on the first pitch of the game, then shut out a powerhouse team from Japan that had allowed only one run combined in its previous five games.
2. Washington 6, Taiwan 0 (1982) » Taiwan was coming off five straight titles and a 31-game winning streak in LLWS play — both streaks remain unchallenged — but led by Cody Webster, Kirkland, Wash., ended America’s longest title drought at six years.
1. Georgia 3, Japan 2 (2007) » In 2007, Warner Robins, Ga., rallied in the bottom of the sixth to send the game in extra innings. Then in the eighth, Dalton Carriker won it with an opposite field, solo home run.
– Kevin Dunleavy
