El Segundo wins Little League World Series with walk-off HR by Louis Lappe
1 year ago
El Segundo #ElSegundo
El Segundo’s Louis Lappe, right center, celebrates with manager Danny Boehle, left center, and teammates after hitting a solo walk-off home run off Curaçao’s Jay-Dlynn Wiel during the sixth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. California won 6-5. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
El Segundo’s Louis Lappe, center, celebrates with teammates after hitting a solo walk-off home run off Curaçao’s Jay-Dlynn Wiel during the sixth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. California won 6-5. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
El Segundo’s Louis Lappe, left, celebrates as he rounds second after hitting a solo walk-off home run off Curaçao’s Jay-Dlynn Wiel during the sixth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. California won 6-5. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
El Segundo’s Louis Lappe, left, hugs Curaçao’s Jay-Dlynn Wiel (10) in the post-game handshake line following the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. Lappe hit a solo walk-off home run off Will in the bottom of the sixth inning. California won 6-5. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
The El Segundo team lines the first baseline and the Curaçao team lines the third baseline during introductions before the Little League World Series Championship game at Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
El Segundo’s Ollie Parks delivers during the first inning of the Little League World Series Championship game against Curaçao in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
El Segundo’s Lucas Keldorf (9) hits a double off Curaçao’s Sean Serverie, driving in two runs, during the first inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
El Segundo’s Brody Brooks (14) scores the second of two runs as Curaçao’s Yaedon Lourens Martie waits for the late relay throw, on a double by Lucas Keldorf during the first inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
Curaçao’s Sean Serverie collects himself on the mound after giving up a double to El Segundo’s Lucas Keldorf, driving in two runs, during the first inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
El Segundo’s Louis Lappe (19) and celebrate after scoring on a double by Lucas Keldorf off Curaçao’s Sean Serverie (12) during the first inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Curaçao’s Sean Serverie (12) delivers during the first inning of the Little League World Series Championship game against El Segundo in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Curaçao’s Jay-Dlynn Wiel (10) celebrates after scoring on a single by Shemar Sophia Jacobus off El Segundo’s Ollie Parks, in the third inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Curaçao’s Shemar Sophia Jacobus (9) singles off El Segundo’s Ollie Parks, driving in a run, in the third inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
El Segundo players line the first base line and Curaçao lines the third base line during the pregame festivities of the the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
El Segundo fans cheer for the team against Curaçao during the fourth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
Curaçao’s Nasir El-Ossais (13) is greeted by his teammates as he reaches home plate after his grand slam home run off of El Segundo’s Max Baker during the fifth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
El Segundo’s Louis Lappe, center, talks with pitcher Max Baker (13) as Curaçao’s Nasir El-Ossais (13) rounds third base on his grand slam home run during the fifth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
Curaçao’s Nasir El-Ossais (13) celebrates as he runs to first on his grand slam home run off of El Segundo’s Max Baker during the fifth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
El Segundo’s Brody Brooks (14) and Colby Lee (10) celebrate after turning a double play against Curaçao to end the second inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
El Segundo’s Colby Lee (10) turns a double play forcing out Curaçao’s D’Shawn Winklaar (6) during the second inning of the the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
El Segundo players pose with the championship banner after their 6-5 win against Curaçao during the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
El Segundo’s Louis Lappe (19) celebrates as he rounds second after hitting a solo walk-off home run off Boehle’s Jay-Dlynn Wiel during the sixth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
WILLIAMSPORT — Louis Lappe hit a game-winning home run in the sixth inning, becoming an instant legend and giving El Segundo the Little League World Series title with a 6-5 win over Curaçao Sunday.
El Segundo survived an early loss, overcame sickness and stood up to the pressure of playing at the Little League World Series to win it all.
“It’s been a long two months, but it’s been a loving, wonderful ending to the last two months of our mission,” El Segundo manager Danny Boehle said. “I think it’s priceless and I wouldn’t give it up for the world.”
Several players stepped up for El Segundo throughout its run. Two have stood out a little more than the rest. That continued Sunday.
Brody Brooks and Lappe continued to play starring roles. Brooks started it and Lappe ended it.
Brooks opened the game with a single and scored as El Segundo grabbed an early lead. Lappe ended it with what may become the most famous home run in Little League history.
“When that pitch came, even before I hit it, I was like, ‘Oh!’” Lappe said. “I was so excited and happy. When I got around to home plate, I made sure to touch it.”
Boehle said he thought Curaçao would likely pitch around Lappe.
“My initial thought was they weren’t going to pitch to him,” Boehle said. “I wouldn’t have pitched to him, but I know him.”
El Segundo players will return to California champions of the world. It wasn’t easy, especially in Sunday’s contest against the Caribbean champs.
El Segundo took a 5-1 lead into the fifth inning, but Curaçao hit a grand slam that tied the game 5-5. Brooks was then handed the ball as manager Danny Boehle turned to his biggest players in the biggest moment.
Brooks has been a big reason for El Segundo’s early success in games. He entered Sunday’s world championship with five hits in his last two games. That included a 3-for-3 performance in the U.S. title game, including a home run.
Brooks has put himself in rare company since landing in Williamsport. He had 13 hits in the World Series games to go with 13 runs and five RBIs.
El Segundo’s No. 2 hitter isn’t bad either.
Lappe posted 10 hits in El Segundo’s seven games. He also scored eight runs and drove in 10. He led all hitters with five home runs in the tournament.
“These guys know what they’re doing and they believe in the coaches,” Boehle said. “We believe in them. It’s just the attitude and the personalities they’ve chosen over the years that has kept us so connected.”
Brooks and Lappe opened the game with back-to-back singles. Lucas Keldorf drove a ball to the center field fence to score both Brooks and Lappe.
Colby Lee and Brooks walked in the third inning to put runners in scoring position. Lappe then drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases for Kalish, who drove in two runs with a double.
Max Baker opened the fourth inning with a triple into right field. Crew O’Connor hit him home with a single and El Segundo had a 5-1 lead.
Ollie Parks started the game for El Segundo. He struck out the side in the first inning and pitched into the fifth.
Curaçao got a run back in the third when Jay-Dlynn Wiel and Nasir El-Ossais connected with back-to-back singles. Shemar Sophia Jacobus recorded the third single of the inning to score Wiel from second. A ground ball to second ended the inning.
In the fifth inning, Nasir El-Ossais stunned El Segundo fans everywhere and completely changed the game with his two-out home run over the right field fence for a game-tying grand slam.
But Louis Lappe had the last at-bat in the bottom of the sixth inning, blasting the home run to left to send El Segundo home as world champs.
“It’s super exciting,” Kalish said. “It’s kind of settling in right now that we’re the best in the world. At first, it was kind of shocking because Louis just hit a home run and the game was over.”
