Falling into losers’ bracket means a chess match with pitching
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Life in the elimination bracket is far from glorious and is more than stressful for coaches.
Who do you start? Do you let them go the max for 85 pitches? Do you only throw for 50 so you can use them again in two days if you win now?
It's not easy, and Japan is in that exact situation.
The Little Leaguers from Joto Little League in Tokyo, Japan fell into the elimination bracket after suffering a 6-0 loss in their opener to a strong Willemstad, Cuaracao squad.
Since then, it's game after game, day after day. Japan's first elimination game was on Saturday. After having Sunday off, Japan played two games in two days and Tuesday's elimination game vs. South Korea marks three in three days.
A win Tuesday would make it four games in four days. But Japan manager Masanori Takeda didn't se falling into the elimination bracket as bad. More games to play means more baseball for his players to stay fresh and keep playing.
"I think it's advantageous for us, but we seek the championship," Takeda said. "We have to win ecah game (though). We will play each game and situation."
Canada was riding a ton of momentum entering Wednesday, but the Japan's players are confident with one another when they play.
Japan has thrown six pitchers so far this tournament in Tensei Yazawa, Rui Tobata, Takeru Yorozu, Ryosuke Takaoka, Ijima Shinnosuke and Yabe Yunosuke. And on Wednesday afternoon against the Vancouver, British Columbia, Tobata got the call on the mound to start.
"We don't have pitcher left," Takeda joked with a laugh prior to Wednedsay's game. "As I mentioned, we have to play each game. I think we have a pitcher to throw. Are we going to play in Lamade Stadium (for final)? We will do our best in each game (to get there)."
Japan showed on Tuesday that it could win in different ways. After two straight games hitting the long ball with five home runs over a two-day span, including belting three home runs against Brno, Czechia on Monday, Japan used small ball and singles to drive in three runs against Mexico.
Against Canada on Wednesday, it was another home run which accounted for three runs in the third inning to give Japan a 7-0 lead.
The home runs may not always be there, but fundamental hitting always seems to be for Japan.
"(Monday) we hit three home runs. After the game, I told the players you don't need to get home run, just take a swing," Takeda said. "A home run is good, but we want the player to hit and it continues to the next batter."
During Tuesday's game, Japan pitcher Tensei Yazawa and catcher Yunosuke Yabe were dancing in the field during the game and keeping things loose. For Yabe, it was a way to keep his pitcher relaxed.
"I do that for our pitcher to give him power and a shift in momentum," Yabe said. "So I'm dancing."
It's been working as Japan keeps winning. On Wednesday, Japan added anther win to its resume by beating Canada to advance to Thursday's losers' bracket final against Leon, Nicaragua.