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Vancouver, British Columbia was riding a hot streak through the losers' bracket. The Canada Regional champons from Little Mountain Little League beat Panama and South Korea in back-to-back elimination games and were playing well.
But Tokyo, Japan is just as tough and got the win, 7-3, at Volunteer Stadium to eliminate Canada.
Japan advances to Tuesday's game at 9 a.m. at Volunteer Stadium against Leon, Nicaragua.
"I told the players yesterday that Canada beat South Korea and I told them they are so tough," Japan manager Masanori Takeda said. "They hav a lot of momentum. (Our kids) started well."
Japan sparked in the bottom of the second inning and jumped to a fast 4-0 start.
A walk, fielder's choice and error put Taiga Yumitori, Shinnosuke Ijima and Hiroto Yokote on base with no outs. Then a clutch two-RBI double by Sou Koyama got things started for the team's offense to score runs.
"I am so glad. At the time I fell behind and I thought, don't chase the ball. I am out of the zone and I took my swing after that," Koyama said. "It's a ball that carried more than I expected and the Canada outfielder got in front. I'm so happy to hit a double."
Canada scored three runs in the fourth and fifth, combined, but it was too little, too late.
"Definitely not what you wanna do to a Japan team (fall behind) and those guys can hit," Canada manager Brad Dorwart said.
Canada’s Connor Ross had a leadoff single in the top of the fourth and was driven in two batters llater on an RBI single by Felix Hoyano. In the fifth, Canada’s Kian Sandhu (hit by pitch) and Daniel Huang (single) both were driven in on back-to-back hits by Lucas IZen and Jean Ramos, respectively.
Japan hit a home run in the bottom of third when Taiga Yumitori had his first hit of the Series, crushing a home run to right field for a 7-0 lead.
Takeru Yorozu (2 for 3, RBI) and Ryosuke Takaoka (2 for 3) led Japan with multiple hits.