The 2017 Little League World Series was held from August 17 to 27. Eight teams from the United States and eight teams from around the world competed in the 71st edition of the tournament.[1] Tokyo Kitasuna Little League of Tokyo, Japan, defeated Lufkin Little League of Lufkin, Texas, in the championship game by a 12–2 score. It was the 11th time that a team from Japan won the tournament. Tokyo Kitasuna became the first league to win the tournament four times.
 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Dates | August 17–August 27 |
| Teams | 16 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |   Tokyo Kitasuna Little LeagueTokyo, Japan |
| Runner-up |   Lufkin Little LeagueLufkin, Texas |
Teams
Regional qualifying tournaments were held between June and August 2017.
Results
The draw to determine the opening round pairings took place on June 15, 2017.[2]
United States bracket
| Upper round 1 | Upper round 2 | Upper final | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| August 17 – Game 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 New Jersey | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 20 – Game 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Connecticut | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Connecticut | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 17 – Game 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 23 – Game 24 (F/7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Michigan | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 18 – Game 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 North Carolina | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Washington | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 20 – Game 16 (F/5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 California | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| California | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 18 – Game 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 South Dakota | 0 | August 26 – U.S. championship | |||||||||||||||||||||
| North Carolina | 6 | North Carolina | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Texas | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 3 | Lower final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| August 21 – Game 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 19 – Game 10 (F/4) | California | 9 | August 24 – Game 26 (F/5) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| New Jersey | 15 | New Jersey | 12 | August 23 – Game 22 (F/5) | Texas | 14 | |||||||||||||||||
| Michigan | 5 | New Jersey | 2 | Connecticut | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| August 21 – Game 20 | Connecticut | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| August 19 – Game 12 | Connecticut | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Washington | 4 | Washington | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| South Dakota | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
International bracket
| Upper round 1 | Upper round 2 | Upper final | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| August 17 – Game 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Venezuela | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 20 – Game 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Mexico | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Venezuela | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 17 – Game 3 (F/4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Canada | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canada | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 23 – Game 23 (F/5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Italy | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Canada | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 18 – Game 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Japan | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Japan | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 20 – Game 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Australia | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Japan | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 18 – Game 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 South Korea | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Dominican Republic | 1 | August 26 – International championship | |||||||||||||||||||||
| South Korea | 10 | Japan | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mexico | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lower round 1 | Lower round 2 | Lower round 3 | Lower final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| August 21 – Game 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 19 – Game 9 (F/4) | South Korea | 0 | August 24 – Game 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mexico | 13 | Mexico | 1 | August 22 – Game 21 | Canada | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Italy | 0 | Mexico | 8 | Mexico | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| August 21 – Game 19 | Venezuela | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| August 19 – Game 11 | Venezuela | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Australia | 7 | Dominican Republic | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dominican Republic | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Crossover games
Teams that lost their first two games played a crossover game against a team from the other side of the bracket that also lost its first two games. These games were labeled Game A and Game B. This provided teams who were already eliminated the opportunity to play a third game.
| Game A | ||
| August 21 – Lamade Stadium | ||
| Italy | 7 | |
| Michigan | 11 | |
| Game B | ||
| August 22 – Lamade Stadium | ||
| Australia | 11 | |
| South Dakota | 7 | |
Third place game
This consolation game is played between the loser of the United States championship and the loser of the International championship.
| Third place game | ||
| August 27 – Lamade Stadium | ||
| Mexico | 14 | |
| North Carolina | 8 | |
World Championship
| Little League World Championship | ||
| August 27 – Lamade Stadium (F/5) | ||
| Texas | 2 | |
| Japan | 12 | |
| 2017 Little League World Series Champions |
|---|
 Tokyo Kitasuna Little League Tokyo, Japan |
Champions path
The Kitasuna LL reached the LLWS with a record of nine wins and only one loss.[3] In total, their record was 14–1.
| Round | Opposition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| All-Tokyo Tournament | ||
| Opening Round | Chofu LL | 17–2 |
| Quarterfinals | Fuji LL | 14–1 |
| Semifinals | Inagi LL | 11–0 (F/5) |
| Winners Bracket Final | Nakano LL | 5–6 |
| All-Tokyo Round Robin Playoff | ||
| Game 1 | Chofu LL | 9–7 |
| Game 2 | Hachioji LL | 13–0 (F/4) |
| Japan Regional Tournament | ||
| Opening Round |  Hiroshima Nishi LL | 12–1 (F/4) |
| Quarterfinals |  Gifu Tohno LL | 16–2 (F/6) |
| Semifinals |  Osaka Namihaya LL | 4–1 |
| Finals |  Chiba City LL | 17–0 (F/4) |
Notable players
- Ryuto Konno (Japan) - Pitcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)[4]
MLB Little League Classic
On March 9, 2017, Major League Baseball (MLB) and Lycoming County officials announced that Williamsport would host a regular season MLB game during the LLWS, branded as the MLB Little League Classic. The game took place on August 20, 2017, at BB&T Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field and was attended by the Little Leaguers and their families, along with select Lycoming County residents. The game featured the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was televised on ESPN (as part of Sunday Night Baseball), ESPN Deportes, and MLB Network.[5] The Pirates won, 6–3.[6]