Mexico wants to learn from Japan’s discipline, culture
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Mexico manager Francisco Fimbres noted that his team and players respect Japan a lot, not just as an opponent and talented team, but from a culture perspective as well.
Notably, Japan's discipline when it comes to baseball.
The kids from Municipal de Tijunana Little League from Tijuana, Mexico was eliminated on Tuesday afternoon at Volunteer Stadium with a 3-1 loss to Joto Little League from Tokyo, Japan. But they hope to bring back home some of that respect and culture from Japan.
"We're going to learn about their discipline and their game," FImbres said. "We can change the way the players play, but the kids have to learn if they want to change. They will change."
It shows the utmost respect the 11- and 12-year-old kids have for one another at the Series. And when it comes to the International side of the tournament, there's cultures to learn from when interacting with each other.
When Japan manager Masanori Takeda was told about Mexico wanting to learn about their culture and the respect Fimbres and the team have for them, he was honored immediately.
"I'm so glad (leagues want to replicate us)," the Japan manager noted. "I think that almost all Japanese players don't have enough power than Mexico players (do). I always tell players bunt and swing hard even though they're smaller players. Mexico has a great team and players."
Mexico had hopes of advancing in the elimination bracket, but Mexico was held to four singles in that loss and weren't able to drive in runs when batters' reached base, stranding four.
That was in large part because of Tensei Yazawa's five inning, 85-pitch performance wtih seven strikeouts.
But regardless of the outcome, Mexico is happy with the performance it had this year in South Williamsport.
"It was a really good experience. Congrats to team Japan, they did it really well," Fimbres said. "We didn't hit very well, but congrats to Japan. It was a good experience and we're happy to be here."
Mexico opened the tournament with a 7-1 win against Ryde Little League of Sydney, Australia, but then ran into two very tough teams from there. That included losing to Leon, Nicaragua at Volunteer Stadium, 8-4, before Tuesday's elimination game loss to Japan.
"I'm always so proud of the boys," Fimbres said of what this summer's meant getitng to South Williamsport. "They brought us here and I'm so, so proud of them."
And no doubt fans back home in Tijuana are proud of the summer Municipal de Tijuana Little League has produced this summer. They may not have made it to the International or World Series championship games, but they still got to the biggest stage in youth baseball.
And that's a heck of an accomplishment no matter how you break it down.