Little League World Series pits Mexico against Japan in finals
August 26, 2011
Mexico and Japan will be facing off on Saturday in the international final of the Little League World Series. Last week, Bruno Ruiz hit a home run at the top of the ninth inning against Venezuela to secure his team's 2-1 victory, according to The New York Times.
"I really just wanted to get on base and make good contact," Ruiz told The Los Angeles Times. "But I got a fastball low and inside, and when I hit it I knew it was gone."
As a reward for their hard work, the Mexican team took a trip to Yankee Stadium, just four hours from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, where the games are being held. There they got to watch New York take on the Oakland team. Yankees pitcher Luis Ayala, who was born in Mexico, gave the boys tickets to the game.
Earlier in the series, Mexico played Japan, and the game went into extra innings. Mexico took the victory, but since then Japan has gone undefeated for three games, according to The Los Angeles Times Bleacher Report. They most recently beat Venezuela 9-6, which may spell bad news for the Mexican team, who barely beat the South American club.
People who are following the series can use international calling cards to make calls to Mexico and talk to their friends about the series.