Japan beats Panama for LLWS international title

By Genaro C. Armas

Associated Press

Published: Saturday, Aug. 25 2012 1:25 p.m. MDT

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Tokyo's Kotaro Kiyomiya watches his solo home run off Aguadulce, Panama, pitcher Daniel Cruz in the fourth inning of the international championship baseball game at the Little League World Series, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, in South Williamsport, Pa. It was the second homer of the game for Kiyomiya.

Gene J. Puskar, Associated Press

Summary

Japan's big bats helped the team from Tokyo earn a trip to the Little League World Series title game.

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Japan's big bats helped the team from Tokyo earn a trip to the Little League World Series title game.

Japan hit five homers, including two from 13-year-old slugger Kotaro Kiyomiya, to beat Aguadulce, Panama, 10-2 Saturday for the international championship.

Japan returns Sunday for the tournament title game against either California or Tennessee. They'll meet later Saturday for the U.S. crown.

The 6-foot Kiyomiya is imposing at the plate. He's become so known for his power that fans sitting on the hill beyond the right-field fence started holding a "Kotaro Target" sign near a bright red bullseye. Kiyomiya's first-inning homer sailed deep down the right-field line.

Edisson Gonzalez had an RBI single in the first while Daniel Castro added a run-scoring double in the second for Panama.

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