Vancouver Little League team did something Canada hasn't seen in 28 years
The last time Canada did this at the Little League World Series, none of the players were born. Heck, they likely weren’t even a thought.
Little Mountain, a Vancouver-based baseball squad, is representing Canada at the annual Little League World Series.
After being blanked 7-0 in their opening contest against South Korea, the kids have gone on a run.
On Saturday, Canada outhit Australia 9-2 en route to a 4-0 win. From there, they started to reel off victories in dramatic fashion.
Facing elimination once again against Panama on Monday, Canada didn’t record a hit through regulation (six innings). However, in the seventh inning, they got runs from Connor Matsuda, Connor Ross, and Jason Mezzarobba to go up 3-0.
They still barely hung on, and things got interesting after Panama made it 3-2 after scoring on a wild pitch, but Canada emerged with the victory.
On Wednesday, they faced South Korea again, the squad that shut them out in Canada’s only non-elimination game of the tournament.
This time, the underdogs pulled through.
Canada got off to an early lead, and despite some dramatic moments, they held on for a surprising 5-1 win over South Korea.
The most heart-stopping moment for Canada happened in the bottom of the sixth and final inning. Despite holding a 5-1 lead, Canada had loaded the bases.
However, pitcher Kian Sandhu got them out of the jam to win the game.
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“Base loaded two outs and I was like if I’m gonna strike this guy out, I’m gonna go crazy,” Sandhu told the Williamsport Sun-Gazette.
“I don’t think anyone thought we were gonna win this. We were extreme underdogs.”
Underdogs or not, Little Mountain has now helped Canada achieve something not seen this century in the Little League World Series. For the first time since 1998, Canada has won three games in a row.
They play Japan on Wednesday for a shot at winning their fourth in a row. If they do, they’ll be within three games of the final, something Canada hasn’t accomplished since 2017.
The furthest Canada has made it in the Little League World Series was within one game of the final, which hasn’t been done since the 1998 squad from Langley did so.