Canada gets rematch with South Korea in a win-or-go-home contest Tuesday
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It was a lot to take in last Wednesday when the Little League World Series began. For the players from Little Mountain Little League in Vancouver, British Columbia, they had a first-day matchup with Seoul, South Korea -- the Asia-Pacific Regional champions -- in front of a few thousand fans at Volunteer Stadium.
With the sun setting late in the evening and a large crowd, it was a moment that caught the team a little offguard as South Korea beat Canada, 7-0, to drop Canada into the elimination bracket.
Now, Canada is hoping to show that it's a better team than that seven-run loss showed and they get a rematch with South Korea at Volunteer Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
"I think first game we were here, they were ready to play and I think I said this, we weren’t 100% ready yet to play. The lights were bright and some of our guys, the whole situation caught them off guard," Canada manager Brad Dorwart said. "Now this is their fourth game, they've been here and they're more comfortable now.
"They've been playing better and better as they go. For Korea, we stick to our game plan," Dorwart said. Lets be scrappy, play good defense and take those opportunities when they're there. At the end of the day, these guys will make the plays and they'll enjoy it. Just enjoy it."
South Korea has a strong team this year as the Asia-Pacific champions opened the Series with back-to-back shutouts against Canada (7-0) and Czechia (5-0) before suffering a 1-0 setback against Willemstad, Curacao to drop into the elimination bracket.
Canada's Jacob Massel won't be eligible to throw after an 85-pitch performance in Monday's win over Panama, 3-2, in seven innings. Neither will Connor Ross, who came in for relief for the sixth and seventh in the victory.
But Dorwart isn't worried, as he has a handful of kids who can throw.
"I have a good idea (who I'm throwing), but we'll see how the bullpens go and make a judgement. There's a good chance it's someone no one's sen yet. I have a lot of arms I'm confident in," Dorwart said. "Now you're in bracket where you ust gotta roll the dice. You can't play tomorrow if yu don't win today. Let it go to the next person and have it be a challenge. They'll e wanting it big time. We're playing with nothing to lose now."
Monday's exciting 3-2 win against a talented Panama team has given the Canada Regional champions a bit of confidence as well heading into Tuesday's rematch against South Korea.
"I think it will be a tough match. South Korea's obviously a very stron team. They have good pitching, good hitting. They basically have good everything," Massel said. "This team is built around each other and no one leaves anyone behind. I think we do have a chance of beating them."