Japan ends Verdugo's no-hit bid, advances to Little League World Series

Armando Verdugo was so close.

The pitcher, representing Mexico Region champions Seguro Social, was throwing a no-hitter against Japan's Tokyo Kitasuna entering the seventh inning in the Little League International Championship on Saturday. Then it all fell apart.

Not only did Yugo Aoki break up the no-hitter, but the Japanese squad secured a run to walk off with a 1-0 victory to advance to the Little League World Championship.

Verdugo was on the verge of the first no-hitter in the U.S. or International championship since 1993, before Aoki ended the bid. He struck out 10 hitters in his 6 2/3 innings of work.

"It was the best game of his career," Mexico manager Jorge Joel Armenta told reporters. "He did a great job."

Opposing Japanese hurler Kabu Kikuchi struck out 10 hitters of his own.

"I knew today was going to be my last day as pitcher in Little League, so I put 100 percent of my energy into every single pitch," Kikuchi said. "(Verdugo) was really great, so I tried not to allow any runs at all."

Japan will meet Mid-Atlantic - the winner of the U.S. championship - in the World Series.