In 2011, California and Japan met for the Little League World Series title.
After Japan rolled Panama 10-2 in the International Championship, many thought it was a forgone conclusion that a rematch would ensue.
After clawing its way to the United States Championship from the loser's bracket, California was motivated and focused for a shot at Japan and back to back titles for the state of California.
Tennessee, a team who wasn't even supposed to win its regional final against Warner Robbins, had a different idea.
When California goes to sleep tonight, one Tennessee player will continue to haunt their dreams.
That player is Lorenzo Brown
His three home runs and nine RBI propelled Tennessee to a 24-16 win and a chance at the Little League World Series title against Japan tomorrow at 3 ET.
With these being two of the best hitting teams in the tournament, the game was primed to be a slugfest.
Tennessee didn't waste any time showing why they are still undefeated in Williamsport. After California pitcher Bradley Smith walked Jayson Smith with one out in the first, Brock Myers hit his fourth home run of the tournament, giving Tennessee a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, it was California's time to put some runs on the board. Porter Slate led off with a single. Logan Douglas reached on an error and Danny Marzo singled to left, loading the bases with no one out.
Next to the plate was Bradley Smith, who might be the most dominant hitter in this Little League World Series. After coming into the game 9-14, pitcher Brock Myers got Smith to ground into a huge double play. A run was scored, but a big inning was averted. Myers then struck out Kempton Brandis to end the inning with Tennessee leading 2-1.
An error by Hance Smith opened up the third inning for Tennessee. After Jack Rucker got on and moved to second on a wild pitch, Jayson Smith drove him in, making the score 3-1. With Myers coming up, California decided to make a change to the slower throwing Andrew White.
White wasn't able to have much success either as Tennessee was continuing to find holes. After three consecutive singles by Myers, Brown, and Carter, Tennessee took a 5-1 lead, still with no one out.
As if the inning couldn't get any worse for California, Lorenzo Butler sent a three run home run over the right field wall, blowing open the game and extending Tennessee's lead to 8-1.
California showed some life in the third, scoring their second run on a single by Danny Marzo. Bradley Smith then doubled down the left field line, scoring two more and making this a game once again. Before the inning had ended, California added another on a wild pitch, now only trailing 8-5.
After what looked like a 1-2-3 inning for Andrew White and California, three consecutive singles by Myers, Smith, and Carter gave Tennessee a 9-5 lead. Lorenzo Butler decided that one three run homer wasn't enough, so he decided to hit another one, increasing Tennessee's lead to 7 after four innings of play.
In the 6th inning, Tennessee had two men on with no one out and the man of the game (Lorenzo Butler) stepped up to the plate. As he did in his other two at bats, he got down to 2 strikes before crushing his third home run of the day, giving him 9 RBI (a LLWS record).
It was surely a day to remember for Butler, but he will have to continue his hot streak tomorrow if his team wants to upend a talented Japan squad.
Brock Myers pitched a decent game for the Southwest Regional champs. He went 5 innings, giving up 5 runs and striking out 8. Ryan Lyles came on in the 6th, but couldn't record an out while giving up four runs. Luke Brown came in next and retired Porter Slate for the first out with the score now 15-10. Logan Douglas cut the lead to four with a single and now we had a game on our hands. Marzo popped out to center field and California was down to their last out. Bradley Smith then doubled to bring California within three.
With California down to their last strike, Kempton Brandis hit an opposite field home run to cut the lead to one. Next up to bat was the coaches son, Hance Smith. Smith ended up doing the unthinkable and homering to tie the game at 15 and sending the game into extra innings.
In the top of the seventh, Tennessee kept its composure and exploded for 9 runs. California pitchers were over matched and couldn't keep the ball away from where Tennessee hitters could hit it.
In the bottom of the seventh, Luke Brown was able to finally close out the game while only allowing one run in the process. The best game in a while had ended and Tennessee was moving on.
Japan has been dominant throughout the LLWS, but can Tennessee hold their own and take home the crown for the United States once again?
With Jayson Smith, Brock Myers, and Lorenzo Butler in the middle of that line up, I sure don't see why not.
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