Little League World Series 2022 results: Fueled by defense, Curacao wins LLWS international championship

The ball barreled toward the center field wall, seemingly destined to clear the fence. You couldn’t blame Curacao fans for holding their collective breath.

Then, like a salmon leaping out of a creek, Davey-Jay Rijke rose. He stretched his arm out, reaching towards the heavens. And as the ball fell into his glove, he was relaxed.

Rijke had robbed Hsu Ta-Sheng of a game-tying home run deep in the sixth inning of the Little League World Series international championship. And it was glorious.

Rijke’s web gem sealed Curacao’s 1-0 victory over Chinese Taipei Saturday afternoon. But it was also the culmination of a day filled with impressive defense by Curacao’s fielders.

There was Alexander Provacia, the diminutive second baseman who showed poise to get out of a bases loaded jam unscathed in the first inning.

What a play by Curaçao to keep the game scoreless ‼️ #LLWS pic.twitter.com/LMBQo7sG05

— ESPN (@espn) August 27, 2022

There was Jaythan Cordilia, too. The wiry left fielder tracked serious distance to steal an extra base hit from Wang Yuan-Fu in the third.

Jaythan Cordilia has left field on LOCK 🔒#LLWS pic.twitter.com/GT1yfK0p6E

— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 27, 2022

MORE: Watch the Little League World Series live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Ultimately, though, it was Rijke who saved the day. Now, Curacao has captured another bit of hardware. And with one game left to play on Sunday, the Caribbean island nation could add another one to its collection soon enough.

Curacao clinches its Championship! #LLWS75 pic.twitter.com/ZPSSzWYq9G

— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 27, 2022

The Sporting News tracked live scores and highlights from Saturday’s game. Below are live updates from the 2022 Little League World Series international final in Williamsport, Pa.

Little League World Series live updates, highlights from Chinese Taipei vs. Curacao

Sixth inning

2:38 p.m.: Qshondrickson Doran fields a grounder and tosses it to first base to win the Little League World Series International Championship!

2:31 p.m.: Rijke with a superb defensive play! Hsu Ta-Sheng smokes a ball toward the center field wall. It seemed destined to clear the fence, but Rijke calmly stretches his arm over the wall to rob Ta-Sheng and keep Curacao’s lead intact.

2:29 p.m.: Provacia picks out another grounder; Curacao is just two outs away from securing its spot in the LLWS final.

Fifth inning

2:24 p.m.: Fang-Mo with some high heat to get his ninth strikeout! What a display by the Chinese Taipei ace.

2:22 p.m.: Yuan-Shu makes an easy snag in the infield. Two away for Chinese Taipei.

2:21 p.m.: Li Fang-Mo with yet another K! That’s his eight strikeout of the day! His stuff is filthy!

2:16 p.m.: Huge, huge, huge out by Curacao! Cordilia fields a lazy fly ball into left field, ending Chinese Taipei’s threat.

Curacao still holds a one-run edge heading into the bottom of the fifth.

2:11 p.m.: Liao Yuan-Shu drops one right in front of Wiel. Surprisingly, Chinese Taipei doesn’t send its lead runner around third.

It will be bases loaded for Chinese Taipei. Decaster departs after having a wonderful display, striking out four in 4.2 innings.

2:09 p.m.: Catcher Emery Hansen makes a good read on a pop up in foul ground. Two outs now for Curacao.

2:06 p.m.: Pinch hitter Hsu Ta-Sheng shortens his swing and lines a ball into the outfield lawn. First and second base filled with one away. Let’s see if Decaster can get out of the jam.

2:04 p.m.: Decaster follows up Hsuan-Huang’s single with another K, his fourth of the game.

2:02 p.m.: Wu Hsuan-Huang trots into first base after slipping into the 5.5 hole. That’s the first baserunner Decaster has allowed since the first inning.

Fourth inning

1:56 p.m.: Ball dribbles back to Li Fang-Mo, who deposits it to second base en route to securing an inning-ending double play. That’s how you do it.

1:54 p.m.: Fang-Mo will want that pitch back, though. Hits the batter on the noggin while he attempted to lay down a bunt. That puts a runner on first with one away.

1:53 p.m.: Fang-Mo has been in a groove today. He’s got seven strikeouts through ten batters, including catching Jaylliard Emperador with a fastball at the top of the zone.

1:49 p.m.: Decaster is in his bag. He’s retired 11 straight batters. Looking like it could be a long day for Chinese Taipei’s batters.

1:45 p.m.: What a play! Jaythan Cordilia makes a sensational diving grab to rob Wang Yuan-Fu of what looked like guaranteed extra bases.

Third inning

1:43 p.m.: A grounder ends the inning but the damage is done! Curacao holds a one-run edge heading into the top of the fourth.

1:38 p.m.: Curacao strikes first! Jaydion Louisa comes off the bench to bat Provacia home with a well-placed single in the hole between first and second.

THAT BALL HAD EYES
Curacao takes a 1-0 lead in the third inning of the International Championship game#LLWS pic.twitter.com/uJrEODtrfF

— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 27, 2022

Curacao leads, 1-0!

1:37 p.m.: That’s how you do it, Li Fang-Mo! Buckles Rijke’s knees with a curveball right down broadway. One out away from Mo getting out of the inning.

1:36 p.m.: Mo loves his breaking balls. It could get him in a little trouble. A bouncer rolls past the catcher, giving Provacia license to take third. One out.

1:34 p.m.: Mo catches the corner with a fastball to get the first out of the third. Filthy.

1:32 p.m.: Provacia has really made his impact on this game. Lays down a beautiful bunt to get on first then makes it to second after a wild throw.

You gotta love small ball. Earl Weaver would be proud.

Second inning

1:28 p.m.: And let’s make it 3/3 for Provacia. Easily fields a grounder and throws it to first to get Curacao out the inning. It seems Yuan-Shu lost track of the ball and thought he fouled it out.

Either way, Curacao gets out of the inning unscathed.

1:26 p.m.: Provacia with another impressive defensive play, nabbing a one-hop with his legs closed to notch his second out of the inning.

1:25 p.m.: Decaster notches another out to start the inning, it feels like he’s starting to find a rhythm after a tense first inning.

1:21 p.m.: Mo comes back with a vengeance, getting Decaster to whiff on a slider with some serious breaking action. Onto the third!

1:19 p.m.: Shemar Jacobus holds back on a breaking ball up in the zone and whips it into center field. That’s Curacao’s first hit of the game. Decaster up to the plate now, hoping to get himself a little run support.

1:17 p.m.: Fang-Mo coaxes weak contact, which results in a groundout to second base. Two gone.

1:16 p.m.: Fang-Mo gets the out to start the inning. Pretty solid start by the Chinese Taipei pitcher.

1:12 p.m.: Another pop-up, this time into the grasp of Provacia, sends us to the bottom half of the inning. Good inning of work by Decaster.

1:11 p.m.: Another batter up, another batter down, this time courtesy of a lazy fly ball into center field. Two gone in the second.

1:09 p.m.: Decaster gets his second K, this time catching the batter looking. 

First inning

1:05 p.m.: Wiel smacks a curveball hard, but it falls right into the path of the third baseman. 1-2-3 inning for Mo. That will do him a world of good.

1:03 p.m.: And that’s another K for Fang-Mo. Looks like the Chinese Taipei ace is dealing early. 2 outs.

1:02 p.m.: Fang-Mo with the swinging strikeout. Good slider with some serious break at the end. One away for Curacao.

1:00 p.m.: Davey-Jay Rijke leading off for Curacao in the bottom of the first. He’ll be facing off against right-handed hurler Li Fang-Mo.

12:56 p.m.: Bang bang play at first; second baseman Alexander Provacia bobbles the ball on the exchange from glove to hand, but recovers to just beat the runner at first. Huge play to get Curacao out the inning!

What a play by Curaçao to keep the game scoreless ‼️ #LLWS pic.twitter.com/LMBQo7sG05

— ESPN (@espn) August 27, 2022

12:52 p.m.: A pop-up drops harmlessly into the glove of Jay-Dlynn Wiel. Two on, two out for Chinese Taipei.

12:51 p.m.: Decaster hits Shen-Li Chen with a pitch, placing runners on the corner with one away.

12:50 p.m.: Decaster gets the swinging strikeout, one away for Curacao.

12:49 p.m.: Wild pitch advances Shu to third base.

12:47 p.m.: And that’s a leadoff double for Liao-Yuan Shu. Gets a hold of a pitch from Decaster and slots it right over the center fielder’s head.

12:45 p.m.: The first pitch is in! Right-handed pitcher Reangelo Decaster on the mound for Curacao.

Little League World Series start time today

• Start time: 12:30 p.m. ET
• TV channel: ABC
• Live stream: ESPN+, fuboTV

The international championship final will be broadcast live on ABC at 12:30 p.m. ET. Karl Ravech will handle the play-by-play at Lamade Stadium. He’ll be joined in the booth by analysts Kyle Peterson, Jessica Mendoza and Sebastian Salazar.

The matchup between Chinese Taipei and Curacao will also be offered on ESPN+, as well as fuboTV, which offers a free trial. Spanish-speaking fans can watch on ESPN Deportes.

Little League World Series rosters

Here are the rosters for Chinese Taipei and Curacao, who are meeting for a spot in the Little League World Series championship final:

Chinese Taipei

Coaching staff:  Chang Tzu-Chien (manager), Chen Chi-Heng, Lin Min-Chien

Curacao

Coaching Staff:  Zaino Everett (manager), Ildion Martina, Ringemar Raap