Little League World Series 2015: Latest Predictions for Rest of LLWS Bracket
The U.S. and International Little League World Series Championships will be on the line when the tournament resumes at Williamsport, Pennsylvania Saturday.
A well-rested and well-supported Red Land, Pennsylvania team will try to earn the U.S. Championship when the Mid-Atlantic regional champions meet Pearland West of Texas.
The Southwest regional champions earned the right to play for the U.S. Little League Championship with a thrilling 9-7, eight-inning victory over Sweetwater Valley, California Thursday night.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Undefeated Japan will square off with a suddenly hot Mexican team for the International Championship. The Mexicans appear to have improved as the tournament has progressed, and that team was at its best in its 11-0 victory over Venezuela in the elimination game.
Pearland had a most difficult assignment against the explosive West representatives from California. Pearland trailed 6-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning, and the Texas team cut the deficit to one run on a base hit by Zack Mack and tied the scored in the following inning courtesy of Marco Gutierrez.
The game remained tied until the eighth inning, when Sweetwater Valley pushed across a run to take the lead. Pearland West was undeterred, and Ben Gottfried tied the score with a leadoff home run. After Mack reached base, Caleb Low ended matters with a line drive over the wall in left center.
"Comeback win for @PearlandLL West to send team to #LLWS US championship game #PrideofPearland http://t.co/kxPAJSt0eI pic.twitter.com/C6JX3vOlcx
— KPRC 2 Houston (@KPRC2) August 28, 2015"
Mexico scored six runs over the first three innings and was never threatened by Venezuela. Pitcher Daniel Zaragoza allowed just three hits in 5.2 innings, and he also added a two-run double. Alberto Bustos had two hits and four RBI for the winners.
"Mexico routs Venezuela to reach #LLWS International Championship game http://t.co/0id6idgcWd
— PennLive.com (@PennLive) August 28, 2015"
| Team | Opponent | Date, Time (ET), TV | Winner | Skinny |
| Japan | Mexico | Aug. 29, 12:30 p.m., ABC | Japan | Tokyo team pulls out tight game |
| Team | Opponent | Date, Time (ET), TV | Winner | Skinny |
| Red Land, Pennsylvania | Pearland West, Texas | Aug. 29, 3:30 p.m., ABC | Red Land | Texas pitchers worn to a frazzle |
| Team | Opponent | Date, Time (ET), TV | Winner | Skinny |
| Red Land | Japan | Aug. 30, 3 p.m., ABC | Red Land | Home field helps U.S. gain first winner since 2011 |
Red Land vs. Pearland West
The Southwest representatives have proved to be a never-say-die type of team, coming back from three deficits during its win over Sweetwater Valley.
That kind of determination will be needed against undefeated Red Land. The Mid-Atlantic champions also won all of its games during its run to the Little League World Series in the regionals.
Three of Pearland West's most dependable pitchers will not be able to go to the mound in Saturday's U.S. Championship game.
Jarrett Tadlock threw 60-plus pitches in Wednesday's loss to Red Land and is not eligible to pitch again until Sunday. Gottfried used up his eligibility for the tournament by throwing 86 pitches against Sweetwater, while winning pitcher Isaac Garcia threw 41 pitches and can't pitch again until Sunday.
That leaves Gutierrez as the likely starter for Pearland West. While the remaining players on the Texas team are eligible to pitch, Pearland West would appear to be at a major disadvantage against Red Land.
On the other hand, Red Land manager Tom Peifer has a well-rested pitching staff and he indicated to PennLive.com's Geoff Morrow that Cole Wagner would pitch in the U.S. Championship game. The only Red Land pitcher who won't be able to go to the mound in that game is Adam Cramer, who threw 87 pitches in Wednesday night's win over Pearland.
Red Land's pitching staff is strong and rested, while Pearland's is worn to a frazzle. It will be a difficult assignment for the Southwest representatives.
Prediction: Red Land advances to the Little League World Series Championship.
Japan vs. Mexico
Mexico looked like a different team in pounding Chinese Taipei and Venezuela in its last two games. Prior to those games, Mexico's game appeared to be based on pitching and defense.
Japan defeated Mexico 3-1 in an earlier tournament game. Yugo Aoki had three hits for the Tokyo-based team in that game while the Japanese pitchers limited Mexico to three hits. Noboyuki Kawashima was razor sharp, as he did not allow a baserunner while he was on the mound.
Prediction: Japan will win another tight game and meet Red Land for the tournament championship.
Little League World Series Championship
If our predictions hold and Red Land meets Japan in the title game, the Pennsylvania-based team will have a huge home-field advantage, as the partisan fans will almost certainly give them a huge cheering section Sunday in Williamsport.
Red Land should have an excellent opportunity to have a well-rested pitching staff, because Wagner should be able to go four or five innings in the U.S. Championship game. That would give Cramer a chance to take the mound against Japan.
Japan has played sharp baseball throughout the tournament and can feel quite confident even though it won't have the backing of the crowd. No U.S.-based team has won the Little League World Series since 2011, and teams from Japan have won the title nine times.
Still, it's difficult to see Red Land losing because the team has played so consistently.
Prediction: Red Land wins a tight game over Japan and wins the Little League World Series Championship.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
