LLWS 2012: Highlighting Top Performers from Japan's Triumph

The well-rounded team from Tokyo, Japan, completed its perfect run through the LLWS by taking the championship with a convincing five-inning win over Tennessee, 12-2. 

The boys from Japan put up some decent offensive numbers in this tournament, but it was their amazing pitching that led the way. Japan finished the tournament with an amazing team ERA of .75, allowing just 18 hits in 32 innings. 

So it is only fitting that the three top performers from Sunday's championship-earning win came from players who were major contributors from the mound in this tournament. 

Kotaro Kiyomiya

Kiyomiya continued his dominance on the mound against Tennessee, allowing just one run in four innings while striking out eight and walking one.  

In his last two starts, he had a .90 ERA and struck out 15 hitters while allowing only two walks and one hit. 

The six-footer was also a beast at the plate, batting .667 with three home runs in the tournament. Kiyomiya went 2-for-3 in the championship game with a double and an RBI. 

Noriatsu Osaka

Osaka filled the role of closer for this team, and he did so wonderfully. He pitched the final inning in the championship game, striking out two and allowing only one run—just his second earned run in six total innings in the tournament. 

He allowed just five hits in those six innings and rang up an impressive 17 strikeouts.

Osaka was also outstanding at the plate, batting .521 for the tournament and putting on a show in the championship game: 4-for-4 with four RBI. 

Yuta Ishida

Ishida hadn't had a multiple-hit outing in the tournament before the championship game, where he went 2-for-3 with three RBI and a home run. His performance was good enough to boost his overall batting average to .357. 

Like the two players before him, Ishida contributed in the LLWS from the plate and on the mound. 

He pitched a total of 10 innings, going 1-0 with a 1.20 ERA while striking out 17 and walking none.