Japan takes Little League World Series title

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Japan has ended the United States’ five-year reign as Little League World Series champions.

The team from Tokyo limited Waipahu, Hawaii, to four singles in a 4-1 win in the title game Sunday.

Japan won thanks to excellent pitching and defense, plus a homer and three RBIs from Konan Tomori.

The last international team to win the World Series was Curacao in 2004. The last time a team from Japan won was 2003.

Hawaii cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth after a throwing error, but lefty reliever Ichiro Ogasawara got a strikeout and bouncer to end the threat. The 12-year-old Tomori added two insurance runs with his sixth-inning homer.

Starter Cody Maltezo allowed four hits and struck out four to lead Hawaii.