Michigan Beats Iowa With Late Rally In Little League World Series

WILLIAMSPORT, PA — Call them the comeback kids — for the third-straight game Michigan fell behind early only to stage a late rally, this time prevailing over their opponent in walk-off fashion. Michigan and Iowa played for their Little League World Series lives Monday in an elimination game, and the Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores team (2-1) were the last men standing, defeating Grandview (1-2), out of Des Moines, 5-4. The game was played at the Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Grosse Pointe, representing the Great Lakes region, rallied in the final inning of its first game against Idaho, winning 5-4 on a walk-off single. The team then staged a second late comeback against Hawaii on Sunday but fell short, losing 8-3. Monday's game would follow the same script, with Grosse Pointe falling behind 3-0 in the 1st inning, only to come roaring back to tie the game at four runs apiece in the bottom of the 5th inning. The team punched in the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a bases-loaded walk-off single off the bat of Reggie Sharpe, who had hit the ball hard all day but as of that point had remained hitless.

Jarren Purify led the team in hits with two while Ryan Knaebel led the team in runs scored with two. Preston Barr added two more RBIs to his World Series total.

Grosse Pointe only managed to get seven hits off Iowa's bats, but they came at the right time. Down 4-1 in the 5th inning, the team strung together three singles to load the bases for Brennan Hill. Hill came through with an RBI ground out to put the game within two runs. Purify then scored on an error and Barr singled home another run to tie the game.

Going in to the game, Michigan's offense hadn't clicked like it did in the regional tournament. The team had scored just eight runs in its first two games, with six of those coming in the 6th inning.

After a tough .2 innings from Brennan Hill that saw three runs — two earned — score, Barr took over and hurled 5.1 innings in relief. He allowed just one run on four hits and struck out nine batters, earning the win.

Grandview lost it's opening game against New York and faced an elimination game against Rhode Island on Saturday. Iowa, down one run in the 4th inning, showed immense resiliency, rallying and winning the game easily 9-5 to fight another day. Des Moines started Monday's game blisteringly hot, with back-to-back singles followed by a hit-by-pitch. Maddox O' Connor singled home Matthew McCrea Jr. and then later scored on a passed ball. Blake Larson then scored on an error to extend the lead to three runs.

Iowa starting pitcher Alex Stewart was dominant in his four innings, allowing just one run on one hit and three walks. He struck out seven batters. Connor Duong, who came on to pitch one inning of relief, took the loss and the blown save, allowing four runs — three earned — on six hits and one walk.

Grandview's offense had been powered by the bats of Maddox O' Connor and Blake Larson. Over the first two games, O' Connor has four hits, including a double, two walks, and five runs scored. Larson has four hits, two of which went four doubles, and drove in two runs. He also scored twice. Meanwhile, Alex Stewart leads the team in RBIs with five and has scored a run.

As a team, Iowa's pitching had been serviceable heading into the game, sporting a 2.72 ERA. They've limited the free passes, allowing just four walks over 11 innings. Larson leads the team in innings pitched with five. He allowed five runs, but just two of those were earned. Brody Watson has pitched four innings and allowed four runs, though just two of those were earned. Like their opponents, the team has committed five errors and will try to limit the mistakes.

Michigan

#1 Reggie Sharpe P, IF

#2 Ryan Henderson C, OF

#4 Marwynn Matthews OF, IF

#5 Jake Martin C

#6 Jarren Purify P, IF

#7 JJ Schoeck OF, IF

#8 Elliott Nederhood OF

#9 Cameron Schafer P, IF

#10 Chase Mazey P, OF

#12 Preston Barr P, IF

#13 Oliver Service P, OF

#19 Brennan Hill P, OF, IF

#24 Ryan Knaebel P, OF

Iowa

#1 Ayden Bennett 2B, OF

#2 Matthew Jr. McCrea 2B, OF

#4 Gage Schutjer OF

#5 Kobe Kunert C, 2B

#6 Brayden Shutt C, OF

#7 Connor Duong P, 2B

#12 Cade Byers OF

#18 Brody Watson P, 1B

#20 Jace Embry OF

#21 Trenton Tharp OF

#33 Maddox O'Conner P, SS

#40 Alex Stewart P, 3B

#42 De Shawn Childers P, 3B, OF

#77 Blake Larson P, 1B

Photos courtesy of Little League Baseball and Softball / Graphics by Kristin Borden