JAPAN WINS THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AT THE 2012 CAL RIPKEN WORLD SERIES Japan Takes the World Championship Title for the Second Year in a Row at the Cal Ripken World Series

Aberdeen, Md. – For the second year in the row, Japan won the Cal Ripken World Series Championship. They defeated the U.S. Champions from Montgomery County, Maryland by a 17-7 margin. This is the first time that Maryland has represented team USA in the World Championship Game in Cal Ripken World Series history.

John Paul Walsh clubbed two home runs, but it wasn’t enough to carry Maryland to a win on Sunday.

Japan defeated Maryland with 14 hits, including seven extra base hits.

Japan scored seven runs in the sixth on an RBI single by Ryoki Nagai, a two-run home run by Takashi Nakayama, a three-run double by Koki Okada, and an RBI single by Hiroki Matsumoto.

Koki Okada had three extra-base hits for Japan throughout the game.

Matsumoto was in control on the bump, giving up just one hit, allowing no earned runs, and striking out three during his two innings of work.

Shunsuke Yano got the win in relief for Japan. Yano pitched two innings and allowed six runs.

Japan got the win even though Nakayama didn’t last long on the hill. Nakayama was pulled after just two innings, surrendering one hit and one run. The lead stayed with Japan after the first, when Japan scored six runs on three doubles and two singles.

After pushing across four runs in the bottom of the fifth, Maryland closed the gap to just three runs, facing 10-7 deficit against Japan with only one inning left to play.

An RBI double by Marcus Brown and a three-run home run by Walsh sparked Maryland’s rally.

But Japan’s offense came alive in the bottom of the sixth for seven runs, and Maryland couldn’t muster any offense in the bottom half of the inning. With the final out, Japan stormed the field with their Host Family team ambassadors carrying the Japanese flag onto the field.

Japan has won two consecutive World Championships.