By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
WILLIAMSPORT–In professional sports, overcoming a difficult loss often times is the trademark of a successful team.
For a Little League team full of 11 and 12-year-olds it’s the mark of growth.
Asia-Pacific seemed to do a lot growing up one day after getting one-hit by Latin America. The Asia-Pacific connected with three home runs through the first three innings. It also only stranded one runner of the span.
The offense would be enough as Sangheon Park and Wontae Cho struck out 13 to help give the Asia-Pacific a 7-0 to eliminate Mexico from the Little League World Series.
In the beginning, the International game looked very un-international in the early goings as Asia-Pacific hit three home runs to take a 6-0 lead on Mexico.
In Thursday’s game against Latin America, the Asia-Pacific only posted one hit as a pinch-hit, three-run home run proved to be the difference in the 3-2 loss.
In Thursday’s elimination game at Lamade, the Asia-Pacific’s first three hits were home runs as the took advantage of two hit batters and a error to score the game’s first six runs.
Defensively, Sangheon Park looked strong in the first two innings, giving up a hit but getting all six outs by way of strikeout.
Park zoned in after the first inning single from Gael Isaac Cortez, striking eight straight batters. Park put Mexico down in order through the second and third innings.
Park was pulled in the fourth, but Wontae Cho entered to retire the first six batters he faced.
Asia-Pacific 7, Mexico 0
AP 150 100-7 5 0
MEX 000 000-0 1 1
Sangheon Park, Wontae Cho (4), and Junseo Cho. Victor Juarez, Gael Isaac Cortez (4), and Luis Lauro Nincio.
WP: Park. LP: Juarez.
Top Asia-Pacific hitters: Seum Kwon 2-3, 2 HR, 2 runs, 3 RBI. Top Mexico hitters: Gael Isaac Cortez 1-2.
Records: Asia-Pacific 3-1. Mexico 3-2.
Next: Asia-Pacific vs. Latin America at Lamade, tomorrow, at 12:30
