Huge last inning comeback to get into the LLWS, a breakdown
What Happened
In a thrilling semifinal matchup, the Toms River, New Jersey Little League team mounts a huge comeback against the squad from Delaware. The game is tied at 3-3 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, with the winner earning a trip to the Little League World Series. Delaware has held the lead for most of the game, but Toms River refuses to go down without a fight. The New Jersey team gets the leadoff runner aboard to start the decisive frame. With the top two teams from each region advancing to Williamsport this year, Toms River knows they just need to reach the championship game to punch their ticket. The Toms River batter laces a double over the left fielder's head, putting runners on second and third with no outs. The Delaware coach challenges the play, arguing the batter's back foot was not in the batter's box when he made contact, but the umpire rules it's not a reviewable play. The Delaware coach handles the disappointing decision gracefully. The next Toms River hitter lifts a sacrifice fly to center field, making it a 3-1 game. The following batter then grounds a single up the middle to bring the deficit to just one run. The crowd is electric as the momentum shifts. Toms River keeps the rally going, with the next batter driving a double to right field. However, the Delaware right fielder makes a nice play to keep the runner at second base. With the bases loaded and two outs, Carson Frazier steps to the plate. His uncle made waves in the Little League World Series years ago, and now Carson has a chance to follow in his footsteps. Frazier works the count to 2-2, as Delaware is one strike away from clinching a trip to Williamsport. But on the next pitch, Frazier delivers the knockout blow - a towering drive to right-center that clears the bases and gives Toms River a 6-3 lead. The New Jersey dugout erupts in celebration. The next Toms River batter adds an insurance run with a single, extending the lead to 7-3. Delaware can't mount a comeback in the top of the seventh, and Toms River punches their ticket to the Little League World Series with a thrilling 7-3 victory.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentWe had an exciting finish, Toms River, New Jersey versus the team from Delaware. Delaware's
up 3 -0. It's the sixth inning. Jersey hasn't put up a single run all
game. They're going to get the leadoff runner aboard, though, and hope something starts. Now,
it's different this year. The top two teams from each region are going to Williamsport
because they cannot have the international bracket due to COVID. So you don't need to
win your region. You just need to come in second. You just need to make
it to the championship game of your region, and you will go to Williamsport, and
that's what's happening here. This is the semifinal. Winner of this game goes to the
championship game against the Pennsylvania team and automatically goes to Williamsport. Delaware's
up 3 -0. They need three outs, and they're going to the big dance. They
change pitchers, and this kid, the lefty, comes up, goes oppo over the left fielder's
head, keeps the momentum going. Runners are at second and third, and things are
happening. Tom's River is pumped up, but Delaware says, hey, we want to challenge that.
His back foot wasn't in the batter's box when he made contact, and they go
to the replay, and it's very true. The old Jorge Posada, he used to, Jorge
Posada used to kick that back line so the umpire couldn't even see it just
so he could cheat back a little bit against the fastball. What happens is this
isn't a reviewable play, even though he wasn't in the batter's box, so the umpire's
going to go to the Delaware head coach and let her know that it's not
reviewable. Credit to her, she handles it pretty well. She's like, uh, that's
frustrating, but okay, thank you, and thank you guys, and that's frustrating. We got second
and third, no outs, two strikes, and this ball is sent deep to center field.
Center fielder navigates right underneath it, makes the catch, but that's going to score one
run, so New Jersey is on the board. They will not be shut out. Next
batter takes this 1 -1 pitch, and he's going to ground it right up the
middle to score that second run, make it a one -run game. Let's go! He's
excited. Another 1 -1 pitch, and this one is driven to right field. It's going
to bounce, bare hand grab by the right fielder to keep the runner at second
base. Nice play, but they're fired up. Let's go! Let's go!
Next batter, he grounds this. Do they turn two? They get the first out. Is
it the game? No, they can't. He's too fast. Now they're going to intentionally walk
the big dog. Number 13 is on first, and here's the game. We got bases
loaded, two outs, one run game, up steps. Carson Frazier, his uncle made some waves
in the Little League World Series a while ago, if you've seen or heard about
that. Outside pitch called a strike. He's like, oh man, that's not fun. They try
to go even more outside to get a swing and miss. No bite. Uh -oh.
High. Big swing. Delaware is one strike away from going to Williamsport. That ball's
outside 2 -2. They're going to come right at him, and he's going to send
it deep to right center field. It hits the fence on the fly. It clears
the entire bases. New Jersey was down the entire game, and now they are up,
and they're going crazy. Yeah! Yeah! Let's go!
Let's go! Whoa! Woo!
Next batter keeps it going. He flares that one into right, and Carson Frazier's going
to round third. He's going to head home. He's going to extend the lead even
more. Slides in, immediately turns, pumps up the crowd. Let's go! Now they're going
super crazy. Little dance. Let's go! And these kids are fighting each other in the
dugout, saying, come on, cheer. No, you cheer. And then, I don't know. I don't
know. It seems fun, but they still need to get three outs. Delaware can storm
back themselves, but a nice play at third for out number one. Let's go! Oh!
And then, strike one. Strike two. Woo! Perfect pitch, and the umpires even fired up.
Look at that pitch. Dotted. Strike one. One out away. Strike two. One strike
away. They get it. Punch their ticket to Williamsport. Celebrate on the field. A huge
six -run rally in the sixth to send them to the Little League World
Series. What an insane finish. Going back down to Williamsport.
Ha ha. All right.