Little League World Series 2012 Bracket: Breaking Down Current Standings

After a week of exhilaration and heartbreak, the Little League World Series is coming to a close. And the two teams left standing for this summer's U.S. title are finally set in stone.

On Saturday, in the culmination of one of the summer's most beloved festivities, the boys of Goodlettsville, Tenn., will take on those of Petaluma, Calif., on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC, ESPN3) with the LLWS crown at stake.

Meanwhile, in international play, Tokyo will take on Aguadulce, Panama, at 12:30 p.m. ET for the international title.

The winner of Saturday's U.S. championship game will take on the international champion on Sunday for the world championship.

So how did these championship contenders get here?

First, the standings:

U.S. Standings (via LittleLeague.org):

Team	Record
Tennessee	3-0
California	4-1
Texas	2-2
Connecticut	2-2
Indiana	1-2
New Jersey	1-2
Nebraska	1-2
Oregon	0-3

International Standings (via LittleLeague.org):

Team	Record
Japan	3-0
Panama	3-1
Tamaulipas	3-2
Curacao	2-2
Chinese Taipei	1-2
British Columbia	1-2
Uganda	1-2
Germany	0-3

Goodlettsville's dominance has been one of the big stories of this year's LLWS. The Southeast team has won by margins of 12-1, 9-6 and 4-3 in order to reach the championship game, though its most recent victory was its most challenging—and most suspenseful.

It took a tying run on a throwing error, and then an RBI single by Cole Carter, but Tennessee got the job done, even after blowing an early 2-1 lead against Texas. Though Texas went ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Tennessee came right back in the top of the sixth.

And now, Tennessee will get to play a rematch against a team it beat 9-6 in the second round, while California will attempt to avenge that defeat.

After Texas lost to Tennessee in Round 3, it faced elimination against California in Round 4 with a berth to the title game at stake. Texas didn't stand a chance, falling 11-1 to California in five innings, as the game was called due to the mercy rule. 

The loss to Tennessee is the only blemish in an otherwise stellar LLWS campaign for California, which has outscored its opponents 16-1 over its last two games. If any team has revenge in store, it's bound to be these kids, particularly 13-year-old Hance Smith who went 3-for-3 with two home runs, one of which was a grand slam in the first inning to set the tone for Thursday's win. 

Here's the scoring breakdown between the two teams:

Round	Tennessee (3-0)	California (4-1)
1	12-1 (W)	6-4 (W)
2	9-6 (W)	6-9 (L), 5-4 (W)
3	4-3 (W)	5-0 (W)
4	N/A	11-1 (W)

California may have a loss on its record, and Tennessee may be undefeated, but Petaluma's offense that just might be unstoppable—even if it is coming up against the only team that has managed to come out on top of it.

It's not how many games you win—it's how you win them. And despite the fact that Tennessee has been the most dominant team throughout the LLWS, California has been the most dominant lately.