Little League World Series 2012 Scores: Japan's Pitching Paves Way to Title

With their pitching staff, there was no way the boys from Tokyo, Japan were going to do anything at the 2012 Little League World Series but win it. 

This became a reality when they romped over Southeast (Tennessee) 12-2 in five innings of the championship game. You can view all scores here. 

The two runs Japan allowed in the title game tied for the most they allowed in any of their five LLWS games, and only on one other occasion did they allow two.

It is certainly worth noting that Japan's opponents in the championship game, the Southeast, will exit this tournament as the leader in team batting average at .385. Not a problem for the arms of Japan. They held them to just two hits and struck them out 10 times. 

As impressive as these results are, they are not surprising. Japan mowed down everyone they faced.

Let's take a look at some of the stats—they are impressive. 

Japan led the tournament in virtually every pitching category that matters.

That included posting a team ERA of 0.75, a WHIP of .72 and an opposing slugging percentage of .265—and these aren't even the most impressive numbers. 

This team piled up 32 innings pitched. In those 32 innings, they rolled to 60 strikeouts and only five walks. That is just mind boggling. 

To get to the championship game, Japan had to beat Latin America two straight times. They held the Latin American team to three runs in those two games. In their other four games, that same Latin America team averaged just under six runs a game, and they ended the tournament fifth in batting average at .318. 

This pitching staff was head and shoulders above the competition, and they rightfully have the 2012 Little League World Series title to show for it.