Little League World Series 2012: 3 Things We Learned About This Year's LLWS

Another Little League World Series, another tournament full of talent, excitement and drama. 

It's hard to put a finger on why a baseball tournament featuring a bunch of 12-year-olds is such a must-watch event, but it never fails to disappoint. 

Let's take a look at what made 2012's action at Williamsport so special. 

12-Year-Olds Are Getting Better at Baseball

Are 12-year-olds supposed to be throwing 70-plus MPH heaters with sometimes devastating movement? Are they supposed to be knocking opposite field homers? Are they supposed to have already flawless-looking inside-out swings? Are they supposed to be making stunning diving catches?

I'm not really sure of the answer to those questions, but I do know they weren't doing those things with regularity five or 10 years ago.

This year, they were. 

Who knows what's in the little-league water these days, but it seems like every year these kids are bigger and more talented. And I'm not complaining. 

These not-even-teenagers are stepping up to the biggest stage with hundreds of thousands of eyes on them, and they don't falter at all. It's like they are wily veterans with the way they play under pressure. It's absolutely unbelievable.

And it's only making for more compelling action. 

Never Doubt the Drama

Just as the talent level seems to get better every year, the drama follows a similar pattern.

I watch the LLWS every year, and every year I think to myself, there's no way next year's tournament is going to top this. 

Once again, I was wrong.

A no-hitter, a three-home run, nine-RBI game by one player, a 10-run sixth-inning comeback in the United States championship, 40 total runs in that same game, a three-homer effort in the world championship—are you kidding me?

This tournament gave me chills on multiple different occasions, and that's the universal sign for a sporting event being downright awesome. 

Seriously, this time, there's absolutely no way next year can top this tournament. 

Wrong again, hopefully. 

Japan is Way Too Good

In the United States championship, the ridiculously stacked squad from Goodlettsville, Tennessee scored 24 runs in seven innings.

During its four wins in the tournament, it scored 49 total runs.

Against Japan in the World Series? Two runs and two hits.

Yeah. 

Japan's 12-2 mercy-rule thrashing of Tennessee to win the LLWS capped of a perfect summer, and it was never really close. 

In five wins, Japan's pitching staff went 32 innings, gave up four earned runs on just 18 hits and struck out 60. That's an ERA of 1.125 and a WHIP of 0.72. They scored a combined 22 runs in their two championship games, too.

Japan is always good, but this was one of the best teams in recent memory. It was an impressive, imposing performance. 

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