Little League World Series: Five Most Improbable LLWS Champs of All Time

The 2010 Little League World Series is nearing the championship finale, and with that in mind let’s take a quick look back at the five most improbable LLWS Champs of all time.

However, mainly for purposes of this slideshow, we will be focusing on teams that took home the LLWS title since 1960—although the championship series actually began in 1947—and ending with teams that won it all in the 2000s.

With that in mind, let’s begin with an honorable mention—taking a trip to the past as we look back at the 1963 LLWS champions from Granada Hills, California.

Honorable Mention: Granada Hills, California (1963)

Defeated Stratford, Connecticut 2-1 in championship game, capturing California’s third straight Little League World Series title.

In the quarterfinals, Granada Hills defeated North Houston, Texas 3-2 to advance to the semifinals—where they knocked off Izmir, Turkey 14-0 before moving on to the title game against Stratford.

No. 5: Chiayi County, Chinese Taipei (1979)

Defeated Campbell, California 2-1 in championship game, bringing home the country’s seventh title during that decade of LLWS play.

In the quarterfinals, Chiayi County defeated Santurce, Puerto Rico 3-0 to advance to the semifinals—where they knocked off Aviano, Italy 18-0 before moving on to the title game against Campbell.

No. 4: Taichung, Chinese Taipei (1981)

Defeated Tampa, Florida 4-2 in championship game; the win also clinched a fifth consecutive LLWS title for Chinese Taipei.

In the quarterfinals, Taichung defeated Monterrey, Mexico 10-0 to advance to the semifinals—where they knocked off Trail, British Columbia 16-0 before moving on to the title game against Campbell.

No. 3: Long Beach, California (1993)

Defeated David Chiriqui, Panama 4-3 in championship game for Long Beach, the team’s second consecutive LLWS title.

In the quarterfinals, Long Beach went 3-0 in pool play to advance to the semifinals—where they knocked off Bedford, New Hampshire 11-0 before moving on to the title game against David Chiriqui.

No. 2: Ewa Beach, Hawaii (2005)

Defeated Willemstad, Curacao 7-6 in the championship game, which went seven innings in the first extra-innings matchup of the decade.

In the quarterfinals, Ewa Beach went 3-0 in pool play to advance to the quarterfinals (with the tourney having expanded from 8 teams in the LLWS to 16 teams)—where they knocked off Lafayette, Louisiana 2-0 before moving on to the semifinals and defeating Vista, California 6-1 to advance to the title game against Willemstad.

No. 1: Warner Robins, Georgia (2007)

Defeated Tokyo, Japan 3-2 in the championship game, which lasted a LLWS-record eight innings as Warner Robins, Georgia joined Ewa Beach, Hawaii as the second team to win in extra innings in the 2000s.

In the quarterfinals, Warner Robins went 2-1 in pool play to advance to quarterfinals action—where they knocked off Chandler, Arizona 16-6 before moving on to the semifinals and defeating Lubbock, Texas 5-2 to advance to the title game against Tokyo.

[All Photos Courtesy of Google Images Search]

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at [e-mail]