Sato dominant in Japan semis win

    Sato dominates as Japan heads to finals

    By David Briggs / MLB.com |
    SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Ryoya Sato had designs on offering a reprise of his no-hit effort last week against Moscow on Thursday afternoon.

    "I intended on throwing another no-hitter today, but I began to realize from the beginning that was not possible," Sato said through a translator.

    So the Kawaguchi City, Japan, pitcher had to settle for a mere dominating showing and driving in all four of his team's runs in Japan's 4-1 win over Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, at Lamade Stadium.

    The win sends Japan, the tournament's heavy favorite, into Saturday night's International championship game against Mexico.

    Thursday presented the tournament's most difficult test for a Japan team that had steamrolled its way through pool play by a combined 24-3 margin. But in the end, the one-man Sato show was simply too much.

    Sato gave up just one run on four hits, and his fourth inning single put Japan ahead, 2-0. After allowing Dhahran to pull with in one in the fifth, he added a two-run shot over the center-field wall just to seal any remaining doubt on the game's outcome.

    "We were fortunate that Sato came through with both his pitching and his hitting," Japan manager Shigeru Hidaka said. "The batting, though late, came through when we needed it."

    For Dhahran, an American expatriate team that did not win a game in last year's Little League World Series, reaching the semifinals and playing what manager James Durley said may have been their finest game in the tournament made for an optimistic finale to their season.

    "We hung in there with Asia," Durley said. "I know nobody gave us a chance, but 13 people in our dugout believed."

    Perhaps nobody more so than pitcher Matt Timoney, who became the first pitcher at the series to somewhat subdue Japan's offense. He allowed just two earned runs -- a pair of errors accounted for Japan's two fourth inning runs -- on four hits and had his way with everyone but Sato.

    "Matt Timoney has the biggest heart out there. He's a real gutsy kid, as tough as nails," Durley said. "I've been so proud of our guys from day one."

    David Briggs is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.