Georgia Helps U.S. Repeat Itself

The chants of “USA! USA!” spread through the crowd when the kids from Columbus, Ga., got the last out in the Little League World Series.

How fitting.

Cody Walker hit a two-run homer, Kyle Carter struck out 11, and Columbus beat Kawaguchi City, Japan, 2-1, on Monday, giving an American team the championship for the second straight year.

“It feels great,” Walker said with a grin.

Columbus’ victory in the Little League title game came one year after Ewa Beach, Hawaii, beat a squad from Willemstad, Curacao, for the championship. A U.S. team hadn’t won back-to-back Little League titles with different teams since 1982-83, when Kirkland, Wash., and Marietta, Ga., celebrated in South Williamsport. That Marietta team was the only other club from Georgia to make it to the tournament.

“That is pretty awesome,” Columbus Manager Randy Morris said. “We’ve been here twice and won it twice, so maybe we should try this more.”

Long Beach was a repeat champion in 1992-93, though the first victory was awarded after a Philippines squad was stripped of the title for using over-age players.

Carter overcame wildness in the sixth and final inning after walking one batter and hitting another to become the only pitcher in World Series history to win four games.

Columbus’ rally was nearly thwarted by Carter’s mistake on the bases.

Carter took off from first on Lester’s single to center but didn’t heed the stop sign thrown by Morris at third. He was nailed at home for the second out.

It didn’t matter, because Walker then hit his home run.