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LLWS International final: Curacao wants to remain unbeaten; Japan wants revenge

By Jon Gerardi 7 min read

When players from Joto Little League of Tokyo, Japan were asked about advancing to the International championship game after beating Leon, Nicaragua on Thursday morning at Volunteer Stadium, they all smiled and had the same message.

Japan wants to win, and wants to get revenge from earlier in the Series.

Last week, Japan opened the tournament and suffered a no-hit shutout loss to Willemstad, Curacao, 6-0. Since then? The Joto Little Leaguers have rallied off five wins in a six-day span to get to today's International final once again vs. Curacao.

"I'm so happy to advance to the International championship, but Curacao is a tough team," Japan's Rui Tobata said. "We lost that first game. I really ant to avenge that on Saturday."

That was the shared message from Shinnosuke Ijima -- who threw a complete-game on 87 pitches with 11 strikeouts against Nicaragua on Thursday in his final mound appearance at the Series -- and standout Yunosuke Yabe.

"I want revenge and I'm happy to advance to the International championship," Ijima said. "I really want to play a US team."

"We got no-hit in the first game, so I also am going to avenge (that loss)," Yabe said.

Japan's motivated, and they're playing great baseball at the right time.

Ever since falling into the elimination bracket, it's been a strategic mindset of pitching, who to throw and when to pull them to keep them eligible for an upcoming game. It's far from easy, but Japan manager Masanori Takeda has done superb in doing so.

Japan has thrown seven pitchers this Little League World Series with Tensei Yazawa, Takeru Yorozu, Ryosuke Takaoka, Kei Kawanishi, Rui Tobata, Yabe and Shinnosuke all getting the call at some point over the tournament.

It'll be another strategic move on Saturday as to who gets the call. Ijima isn't eligible after going the distance on Thursday. Tobata threw 51 pitches in Wednesday's elimination game, meaning he can't throw again until Sunday if Japan advances then. But Takaoka and Kawanishi can both start against Curacao, as can Yabe or Yorozu.

Who gets the call? Takeda will make that decision Saturday morning to see who gives Japan the best chance and option to upset an outstanding Curacao team.

Originally, Japan was scheudled to play Nicaragua on Thursday in the losers' bracket final at Lamade Stadium. But anticipated rain in the forecast and thunderstorms moved the game up to 9 a.m. and at Volunteer Stadium. Takeda and the players are happy to get the chance to play at Lamade Stadium.

It also will be the first time a team from Japan is playing at Lamade Stadium since Japan reached the International championship game in 2019.

"I'm really, really happy to play at Lamade Stadium. It's our first time there," Takeda said. "We may get no-hit again, but we are very happy to play Curacao again. We will do our best in this next game."

Japan has caught fire in the elimination bracket. Joto Little League on Thursday became the first team ever in tournament history to win five straight games after being held scoreless in the tournament opener. And they want to earn another win to play for a championship.

"I think the players, they have worked so hard. They have tried to keep fighting and to give the team the best (chance to win). I am really happy," Takeda said. "I'm just really happy to be here."

After suffering that no-hit shutout loss to Curacao in the opener, 6-0, Japan battled through the elimination bracket.

Japan beat the Dominican Republic, 10-1; defeated a good Czechia team, 3-2; beat Mexico, 3-1; defeated a strong Canada team who was upset-minded, 7-3; and then knocked off Nicaragua, 4-1; to get to today's International championship game.

Japan pitcher Ijima is glad that his final game pitching at the World Series tournament was one to get his team in position to now play for a World Series berth.

"I'm very grateful and happy to be on this team and to win. I'm not satisfied with just the outs because I gave up a score in the top of the (fourth) inning," Ijima said. "I'm so happy to contribute to the team."

Japan will now need its other pitchers to contribute, and to say they're motivated is an understatement.

However, while Japan is playing outstanding in the losers' bracket, Curacao is just as dominant in the winners' portion of the bracket and is playing as well as any team in the field this tournament, International or US.

The Pariba Little Leaguers have allowed just three runs in three games, all of which came from Leon, Nicaragua in the winners' bracket final on Wednesday at Volunteer Stadium in Curacao's 12-3 win. That game saw Curacao erupt for a ten-run second inning in which the Pariba all-stars batted through the lineup and showed how dangerous they can be when their bats start catching fire.

After a no-hit shutout vs. Japan, Curacao then shut out a good Seoul, South Korea team (1-0) to advance to play Nicaragua.

Like Japan, Curacao also has talented pitching depth.

Jaymiell Martina threw 4 2/3 innings of no-hit shutout baseball vs. Japan and struck out seven before Giendry Ryan relieved him for 1 1/3 innings with four strikeouts of no-hit shutout baseball.

Two days later against South Korea, Curacao's Juriensly De Windt threw four innings with five strikeouts on 53 pitches before Ryan came in relief again, this time striking out five oer two innings of work on 23 pitches.

Curacao's pitchers do well dialing in. Against South Korea, Ryan threw 23 pitches as noted, with 18 of them being for strikes.

Ryan and Martina both were taken out of the winners' bracket final against Nicaragua without going past the 50-pitch mark, making them both eligible for Saturday.

Jordan Richards (19 pitches) and Raymiel Antonia (four pitches) both were brought in for relief in that game vs. Nicaragua, and both are able to come in relief if needed as well.

"There is a lot of confidence," Gijsbertha said about his team after beating Nicaragua."Not here in United States only, but at home too with our people back home. I didn't want to play (Thursday) because I wanted mainly to be in the final from this day on."

Gijsbertha noted that he pulled his two standout pitchers in Martina and Ryan in order to keep them available for the International final.

"I wanted Jaymiel and Ryan to throw 50 pitches today (Wednesday) so by winning we have them back on Saturday," Gijsbertha said. "Ryan was a bit nervous today, but he had the confidence he could win the game because he had so many runs (in support).

Martina has a ton of confidence when he's on the mound and knows he can throw exceptionally well. In his two games this tournament, he's thrown seven innings with no runs allowed, just one hit given up and 12 strikeouts.

"I tell myself that nobody can hit my pitches," Martina said.

That's more than accurate with how good Martina is on the mound..

This is the first time since 2016 that Pariba Little League has reached the International championship game, and just third time since 2000 (2002). And while Gijsbertha is glad his league is in the final, he sees it as a win for the entire nation, not just Pariba and Willemstad.

"I'm very happy that we are in this position right now," GIjsbertha said. "It's not Pariba for me, it's Curacao because it says Curacao (on our chest)."

Curacao has been playing great throughout its three games and have a ton of confidence not just in its pitching and defense, but their hitters' ability to get runs across.

Japan, meanwhile, has won five straight games in the elimination bracket with their backs to the wall and have beaten each opponent in those elimination games that was thrown at them.

Both teams have confidence. Both teams are motivated. And both teams want to play for a World Series title.

Get your popcorn early at the Little League Complex concession stand for this game. It should be exciting.

Starting at /week.