Little League World Series

Taiwan kept Florida scoreless for nearly six innings in the Little League World Series (LLWS) championship game on Sunday. However, Florida managed to push the game into extra innings with just one out remaining, ultimately securing a 2-1 victory in the eighth inning through a dramatic walk-off bunt.

In the LLWS, if a game goes into extra innings after six regulation innings, each team starts their half of the inning with a runner on second base. With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth, Florida's Hunter Alexander executed a leadoff bunt to move the runner to third. But when no one covered first base on the throw, the ball rolled into the outfield, allowing the winning run to score. This victory marked the first-ever LLWS title for a team from Florida, in nine attempts, and prevented Taiwan from claiming its 18th championship and first since 1996.

The loss was particularly heartbreaking for Taiwan, who entered the final with a perfect 5-0 record. The players were visibly emotional on the field after the game, with both teams exchanging hugs and handshakes before departing.

Taiwan took an early lead in the first inning after Florida pitcher Jacob Bibaud issued two leadoff walks. Hu Yen-Chun then drove in Chiu Wei-Che with a single to give Taiwan a 1-0 advantage. Taiwan had a chance to extend the lead but left the bases loaded, and Florida managed to escape the inning having allowed only one run. Florida's offense struggled to capitalize on opportunities for most of the game.

Taiwan's starting pitcher, Ciou Zhi-Kai, kept Florida off the board early, despite issuing walks and a hit-by-pitch. Florida had a prime scoring chance in the second inning when they loaded the bases with no outs, but a double play and a strikeout ended the threat. Florida continued to leave runners stranded, including in the third and fourth innings.

In the fifth inning, Taiwan missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead, loading the bases with one out. But Florida reliever Lathan Norton induced two flyouts to keep the deficit at 1-0. Florida couldn't capitalize on its chances in the bottom of the inning either, as Taiwan's Wei-Che struck out Hunter Alexander to end the threat.

With Florida down to its final out in the sixth inning, Chase Anderson reached base after being hit by a pitch, and Wei-Che issued a two-out walk, putting runners on first and second. DeMarcos Mieses then delivered a clutch hit to shallow left field, allowing Anderson to score from second and tie the game. Taiwan escaped further damage by securing the third out, sending the game into extra innings.

Taiwan had an opportunity to take the lead in the top of the seventh but left runners on first and second. In the bottom half, Florida missed a chance to win when a line drive down the left-field line put Luis Calo on third base. Despite a bobbled cutoff throw, Calo was held at third, and Taiwan ended the inning with a strikeout, pushing the game to the eighth inning.

Taiwan was unable to score in the top of the eighth, setting the stage for Florida's walk-off victory. Taiwan, with 17 LLWS titles, remains the most successful international team in the tournament's history, but their last championship was in 1996. Since then, Japan has emerged as the dominant international team, winning eight titles.

Florida's win broke a streak of eight consecutive title game losses for U.S. teams and capped off an impressive run after losing their third game of the tournament. They won five straight elimination games to claim the championship.