Skip to content

Japan takes home 2017 LLWS on mercy-rule walk off

Evan Habeeb / USA TODAY Sports

That's as emphatic a win as they come.

Japan emerged champions of the 2017 Little League World Series on Sunday as it defeated the Southwest region's Lufkin Little League side courtesy the mercy rule after jumping out to a 12-2 lead in the fifth inning.

Natsuki Yajima brought in the winning run for Japan with his single to right field to score Seiya Arai. Yajima also hit a home run an inning prior and finished the contest with three RBIs, two behind leader Keitaro Miyahara.

Tsubasa Tomii pitched all five frames for Japan, limiting Southwest to just three hits in the finale.

It's the fifth LLWS championship in the last eight years for Japan, who now has 11 in its history. Only Taiwan has won more with 17.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox