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2026 LLWS International all-star team

By Jon Gerardi 5 min read

P--Clemente Sevilla Pichardo, Nicaragua -- Pichardo was brilliant for Nicaragua when he got the chance on the mound. Against the Dominican Republic, the pitcher threw 5 2/3 innings with just one run allowed in a 2-1 win over the Dominican Republic, striking out 12 and giving up only four hits. He also went 1 for 2 at the plate with a double and RBI and scored a run against Panama and a run against Mexico offensively. He had a 1.06 ERA. Pichardo had a rocket for an arm when he was in the outfield.

P-- Jaymiell Martina, Curacao -- Martina was a dominant pitcher for Willemstad, Curacao and ended his time at the LLWS with a 0.00 ERA in 12 innings pitched with a Series-high 26 strikeouts. He was outstanding in Curacao's International final against a good Japan team, throwing 5 2/3 innings of two-hit ball with 12 strikeouts and had 7 Ks in their first matchup in 4 2/3 innings.In the winners' bracket final, Martina threw just 2 1/3 innings but still struck out seven and gave up just one hit. Martina was confident whenever on the mound.

C--Naeem Angel Coeriel, Curacao-- Coeriel was great behind the plate for Curacao and didn't let many balls get past him, especially not for runs. This year at the Series, Coeriel entered Sunday's championship game with the second-most putouts at the tournament with 47, behind only Japan's Yunosuke Yabe's 51. He only had five wild pitches get by him as well throughout the Series in the four games he's been behind the plate prior to Sunday's LLWS championship game.

INF--Cruz Krpan, Canada-- Krpan came in threw some time on the mound in relief against Panama in an elimination game, but Krpan was solid at shortstop throughout the Series. He had three stops at the position against Panama and manager Brad Dorwart spoke highly of his play in press conferences. Against Japan, Krpan came up with numerous clutch plays on hard hits and that type of athleticism was on display in all of Canada's games.

INF--Ji Hwan Hong, South Korea --Another talented shortstop too good to leave off the list, Hwan Hong gets included for his efforts overall. He was a number of talented South Korean pitchers this year and in three appearances, threw seven innings with 14 strikeouts and had an ERA of 0.00 with no runs allowed in those appearances. When he wasn't pitching, he was solid in the infield for the Asia-Pacific Regional champions.INF--Rui Tobata, Japan -- Japan had a lot of players who could connect on pitches and put the ball in play, and Tobata was among them. The Japanese infielder had three hits this year at the LLWS with a .300 batting average and a .500 slugging percentage. He also had two doubles, tied for the most at the Series entering Sunday's championship weekend with seven other players. Tobata was talented as a field player as well and did whatever he could to help Japan win as they advanced through the losers' bracket.

INF-- Tensei Yazawa, Japan -- Yazawa could play all over the field, and saw time on the mound, at first base, in the outfield and at third base. Put him anywhere, and he exceled at his position. Even more impressive was just how good he was as a hitter. He had five RBIs and had a batting average of .529 with seven hits with two home runs. it shows how dangerous he was when he got a hold of a pitch.

OF--Raymiel Antonia, Curacao-- Antonia was a left-fielder for the International champions and had three hits with three RBIs this year in addtion to batting .333 with a .333 slugging percentage and an OPS of .667. In the outfield, Antonia helped limit deep hits in his direction against any team Curacao played and helped get Pariba Little League to the World Series championship game this summer.

OF--Giendry Ryan, Curacao-- Ryan was one Curacao player who was a talented outfielder and could throw great in relief appearances when he needed to. Curacao didn't give up many hits to begin with, but Ryan helped anchor an outfield. As a pitcher, he threw 1 1/3 innings with four strikeouts and no hits against Japan in a 6-0 win; threw two innings with five strikeouts in a 1-0 win against South Korea; and against Nicaragua, had 2 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts. He went 3 for 6 with three runs scored.

OF--Moises Juarez, Nicaragua-- Juarez helped contribute throughout the Little League orld Series this summer for the Latin America Regional champions. He played primarily in the outfield, but saw a few mound trips. Offensively, he scored a run in a 2-1 win vs. the Dominican Republic, had an RBI against Panama in a 6-4 win, went 1 for 3 with a double, two RBIs and a run in an 8-4 win vs. Mexico and went 1-2 in the team's final game, a 4-1 loss against Japan.

UTILITY--Yunosuke Yabe, Japan -- Any team would have loved to have a player of Yabe's caliber in the lineup this summer. The Japanese standout hit two home runs this year at the Series, among the leaders, and had six hits total with a .667 on-base percentage with four RBIs and five runs scored. As a pitcher, he threw three innings against Czechia with seven strikeouts, two hits and one run allowed and did well in any relief appearance he had.

OF--Adam Trunkat, Czechia -- Played in two games at Series and, while winless, recorded a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with a put out. He did a solid job throughout the Series vs. South Korea and Japan in limiting their chances when balls went his way in the outfield.

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