For the first time ever, a team representing Florida is taking home the Little League World Series crown.
The 2024 LLWS championship game ended in dramatic fashion, as Lake Mary, Florida, defeated Chinese Taipei with a walk-off bunt in extra innings. It was a heartbreaking end for Chinese Taipei, which made a costly throwing error after the bunt.
This extra-innings sequence is one you have to watch to fully conceptualize. Here’s everything you need to know about the finish, including a highlight of the play and a breakdown of the Little League extra-innings rules.
MORE: Florida walks off Chinese Taipei to win Little League World Series
Little League World Series walk-off bunt video
As the bottom of the eighth inning began, Florida’s Hunter Alexander stepped to the plate, with Lathan Norton as the team’s ghost runner on second base.
A textbook bunt from Alexander caused Chinese Taipei’s pitcher and first baseman to attempt to make a play on the ball, leaving first base uncovered. As Chinese Taipei’s pitcher threw the ball to an uncovered first base, Norton was able to round the bases cleanly, coming in to score the game-winning run.
LAKE MARY FLORIDA WALKS OFF THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON A THROWING ERROR BY TAOYUAN! pic.twitter.com/4VbGZo7f7y
— MLB Clutch Moments And Walk Offs (@MLBWalk_Offs) August 25, 2024
MORE: What to know about Little League World Series game rules
Little League World Series extra-inning rules
A regulation game in Little League baseball is six innings. Extra innings begin in the seventh inning, but modified rules start in the eighth inning. Among those modified rules is a runner on second base to begin each half-inning starting with the eighth inning, as shown in the above clip.
Here is an explanation of the rule, via the Little League tournament rulebook.
Starting in the top of the eighth inning, and each half inning thereafter, the offensive team shall begin its turn at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat last in that respective half inning being placed on second base.
The rule change is relatively new but similar to the ghost runner in MLB. In this instance, the runner opened the door for Florida to make history with its championship win.
