WORLD SERIES CHAMPS: Taylor North Is On Top
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.---The Taylor North Little League All-Star team won the World Series championship yesterday in Williamsport.
Ethan Van Belle led the District Five champs to a 5-2 win over Hamilton Ohio, recording eight strikeouts in just four innings that he pitched. Jackson Surma drove in four runs for Taylor, and they were able to get out of three bases loaded jams.
It’s just the second Little League World Series championship for Michigan, with the last being Hamtramack in 1955. Both Escanaba and Hamtramack made the World Series in 1957, and Grosse Pointe was there in 2018.
The Houghton Portage Lake team from here in the Upper Peninsula can say they played against the World Champions, as the two teams met in the state tournament in Grosse Pointe last month. Taylor North won that pool play game, 10-0.
Escanaba was also at that state tournament, but did not face Taylor North.
There were no international teams allowed at this year's 16-team tournament because of the coronavirus. Sunday's match-up between two Midwestern teams was a rematch of the regional championship game. Taylor won that one, and Hamilton was the runners-up.
The 2020 LIttle League World Series was completely cancelled due to COVID-19.
