El Segundo Little Leaguers Defeat Curacao To Clinch World Championship, 6-5
![A group of preteen Little League baseball players are jumping around in celebration.](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3b19839/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4500x3000+0+0/resize/880x587!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Feb%2F99%2Feee28ce940dea4a66d71a32112e8%2Fgettyimages-1643023576.jpg)
The El Segundo All-Stars defeated Curacao 6-5 Sunday on a walk-off homer from Louis Lappe.
The game itself was loaded with championship-worthy drama. The bats came alive for El Segundo early as they jumped out to a 5-1 lead going into the fifth inning.
That's when Curacao responded in kind, tying the game up with a grand slam.
In the bottom of the sixth, Lappe — the 6-foot-1 slugger who had been smashing the ball all tournament — strode to the plate. Then this happened:
THIS IS WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF!
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 27, 2023
A walk-off to win the #LLWS Championship 🙌 pic.twitter.com/aVZVvIKIwi
How they got here
The team had advanced to the international championship after defeating Needville, Texas, in the U.S. championship game on Saturday.
This year’s 12-and-under All-Star team was the first to make it to the crowning tournament since the El Segundo league started in 1954. Their opponents, Needville, Texas, handed El Segundo their only loss in the series on Monday.
Seeking redemption, El Segundo jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on a first-inning home run by shortstop Brody Brooks.
Bro(dy) has no chill🥶
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 26, 2023
California leads Texas 1-0 after the top of the 2nd #LLWS pic.twitter.com/9wUxxJHJl6
El Segundo added two more in the third inning when Louis Lappe, a 6-foot-1 pitcher, drove in two with a double.
Showing off the West on his chest!
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 26, 2023
Lappe keeps his incredible #LLWS performance going with a 2-run smack pic.twitter.com/euGusOn9j9
Texas scored a run in the fifth, but Lappe sealed the victory for El Segundo with a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning, capping off a commanding 6-1 victory. Lappe was also the winning pitcher.
Louis Lappe did it all to push California into the #LLWS Championship Game tomorrow
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 26, 2023
10Ks | 5 RBIs | HR pic.twitter.com/dwg48rv6Bq
-
At magnitude 7.2, buildings collapsed
-
Now spinning in front of Santa Monica apartments
-
Advocates seek end to new LAUSD location policy
Team vibes
The team has played together for the last three years. “There's a tremendous amount of trust among these boys,” said Nikki Boehle. Her husband is a coach and her son Quinn is a pitcher and outfielder. “I don't think any of them will ever give up until the, you know, the last out. So these kids are used to fighting and grinding it out.”
-
It's not just any hedge. It's the one that appeared in the 1978 classic horror film, "Halloween."
-
For the first time in 17 years, the Dodgers did not win a single postseason game — and fans unleashed the memes.
-
According to the City of Los Angeles, the car company can break ground on the project.
-
A hike can be a beautiful backdrop as you build your connection with someone.
-
It’s going to be warm this weekend, so take advantage of both the higher temps and the recent rain.
-
It's been many, many years since we saw this much snow in our mountains. Going up there right now isn't safe, but here are some places where you can enjoy the view and snap a pic.