The pitching was shaky at times, but Michigan’s Taylor North delivered a 5-2 win to take the state’s second-ever Little League World Series title.
Taylor North Little League’s Ethan Van Belle lived like a wild man throughout the championship game of the Little League World Series, loading the bases in two of his three innings on timely hits by Hamilton (Ohio)’s West Side Little League squad. Despite the struggles, though, Van Belle always had an answer. Ohio loaded the bases in both the first and third inning to no avail, and Taylor North Little League capitalized off a big first inning to claim a 5-2 win, giving Michigan its first LLWS championship since Hamtramck won it all in 1959. It all started back in Taylor. “I had some of the kids and other coaches had kids and we decided to bring them together for a travel tournament,” Taylor North manager Rick Thorning said. “We got the boys together and they played really well. We decided to bring these guys together. They’ve been practicing and playing together so long they were able to come together and do something special.” THE ROAD TO THE TITLE THE FINAL: Michigan’s Taylor North mows down Ohio,5-2 THE REMATCH: Michigan beats Hawaii,2-1, advances to championship THE OPENER: Michigan shuts out Florida,8-0, to open Williamsport run But back to Williamsport, where the title run — despite a 3-0 lead after the first inning — was far from easy. Van Belle found himself in a difficult position as he battled through control issues in the top of the first. He walked two batters and gave up a single to another to load the bases with just one out. Thorning could see the concern on Van Belle’s face, quickly calling a mound visit. Thorning calmly talked to his pitcher, patting his back and reassuring him. Van Belle recorded a flyball out to short before a strikeout ended the inning without any runs scored. The top of the second didn’t go much smoother. Van Belle opened by giving up a triple to Chase Moak, who scored on the next at-bat when Cooper Clay drove a single into left field. But again, Van Belle was able to pitch his way out of trouble with a popout to right followed by back-to-back strikeouts.
