Little League World Series Schedule 2012: Breaking Down Japan and Panama

After Panama defeated Mexico on Thursday, the international championship game has been set. Panama will face Japan for a chance to advance to the world championship game on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Panama silenced Mexico's home run-happy bats on Thursday, 2-1, as Edisson Gonzalez pitched a complete game, allowing five hits and striking out 11. 

James Gonzalez continued smashing the baseball, hitting a two-run home run in the first inning. He's now hitting .571 with three home runs, eight RBI and five runs in four LLWS games, via the official LLWS website.

Japan, on the other hand, advanced to the international championship game by going 3-0 in the LLWS, including a 4-1 victory over Panama on Wednesday.

Japan's pitching has been sensational and has a chance of lifting the team to a world title this year. Japan has yet to allow an earned run through 21 innings in the LLWS (Panama's was unearned). The club has held opponents to a .136 batting average, has pitched two shutouts and hasn't allowed a home run in the tournament.

Panama does have a shot, though. Despite scoring just one run against Japan on Wednesday, the team has scored a respectable 20 runs in four games.

Japan is not a particularly dangerous offensive club. After scoring seven runs against Curacao to start the tournament (which registered a below-average 4.57 ERA in the LLWS), the Japanese have scored just six runs in two games. Panama may only have to score a few runs to advance against Japan (of course, that is easier said than done).

James Gonzalez will be key for Panama. He has driven in eight of Panama's 20 runs this tournament. Edisson Gonzalez has the second-most RBI on the team with two.

James Gonzalez went 1-for-3 with a strikeout in Panama's game against Japan on Wednesday.

Whatever the outcome, get ready for some fireworks on Saturday at Lamade Stadium.

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