Canada ends Little League World Series run after dominant start | News, Sports, Jobs

Against Australia, British Columbia rallied off seven runs in a shutout over Queensburg. Two days later, Vancouver’s club battled Japan — a tournament favorite — through five scoreless innings before running away with six runs in the top of the sixth.

Canada outscored opponents 13-0 heading into its game against Mexico. Japan has been a perennial powerhouse in South Williamsport, having 11 world titles to its name. And while Canada has never won the championship itself, many have started talking about Little Mountain’s squad.

“I think the team’s still pretty grounded,” Little Mountain manager Ulysses Yan said. “I told them, we all understand everything from now on is all gravy and to just keep playing our game. We’ll remain competitive regardless of who we’re facing as long as we play our game and stick to the basics.”

Benjamin Dartnell added, “Clearly, the pitching is pretty amazing too.”

That it has been. Darntell pitched the first shutout against Australia, striking out eight with just two hits allowed through 66 pitches and 3 2/3 innings.

Against a loaded Takarazuka team, Jaxon Mayervich battled Ryo Ayabe in a pitcher’s duel, the latter tossing just 70 pitches across five shutout innings with six batters struck out.

Mayervich started at first base but relieved Lucas Weisser in the second inning, pulling Canada out of a bases-loaded situation. Once again Japan loaded the bases and Mayervich, calm and cool under pressure on an international, heavily televised stage, went back to work.

He once again bailed out Vancouver and stranded all three baserunners, striking out 10 with just three hits let up across his 76 pitches over the course of 4 1/3 innings.

“It’s pretty fun. I like pitching, and I like hitting. I felt like I could’ve done better on the hitting part, but I’m fine with how I did,” Mayervich said following Canada’s game with Japan.

But it’s not just the pitching that’s carried Canada through the first two rounds. Dartnell and Mayervich have been nothing short of explosive at the plate.

In British Columbia’s opening game against Australia, Mayervich enjoyed a 4 for 4 night with a run and RBI scored. Against Japan, Mayervich snapped the five-inning deadlock with an RBI in the top of the sixth inning, enough to ride out the win.

It hasn’t just been Mayervich who’s been wielding a red-hot bat in Canada’s run through the tournament. Dartnell unloaded a three RBI double in the final inning against Japan to give plenty of insurance to Vancouver. Graydon Yan also had a multi-hit night against Australia, going 2 for 3.

Through its first two games of the 2022 Little League World Series, Canada rattled off 18 hits, seven of which came against a stout Japan defense. But Vancouver has been playing both sides solidly, opening eyes from the plate and mound alike.

“When I’m pitching, I’m mostly focused on pitching well, and I always try to hit well but I don’t think about it as much,” Dartnell said. “I just think about pitching and then when I’m not pitching, I think about the hitting and how to do well with hitting. So, I just, y’know. My hit came at the right time, too.”

Against Mexico, however, Little Mountain received a rude awakening in the form of a five-inning mercy game in which British Columbia was dealt a no-hit shutout.

Throughout its postseason run through districts and regionals, Canada’s club hadn’t lost much. But against a Tamaulipas team that’s already homered three times in the tournament — twice from Miguel Padilla — Vancouver cut its losses after a six-run second inning and spread the pitching among five arms, saving Lucas Weisser for the following day.

“Hopefully they learn how to bounce back from adversity, show what they’re made of and understand that it’s not always gonna be a nice, easy ride,” Yan said following Canada’s game against Mexico.

Weisser had the start on the mound the following night and recorded Canada’s first hit since its game against Japan in the top of the third inning against Curaçao. Willemstad’s club went on to take a 4-2 win over Little Mountain, ending Canada’s run through the tournament.

Dartnell put his club on the board with an RBI in the top of the sixth inning. A fielder’s choice put runners on the corners, allowing a wild pitch to bring home another run to cut the game to two.

Canada’s fan section was chanting, willing Vancouver right to the end. And to the end British Columbia fought, right to the very last out. Little Mountain made a strong start to its run in the tournament, hit a lull and found its footing on the way out the door.

“I’m sure we’ll see a spike in registrations for sure at Little Mountain. From what I hear, I’m not on the news too much, but from what I hear back home, it’s all over the news and people are following and loving it all across the country,” Yan said. “I just want to hopefully promote baseball still in Canada and make it strong.”