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Fantastic catch helps Maine-Endwell win Little League World Series

Endwell, N.Y. celebrates it's 2-1 win over South Korea in the Little League World Series Championship baseball game in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Maine-Endwell Little League celebrates their Little League World Series victory. (AP Photo)

Maine-Endwell Little League, of Endwell, New York had a really amazing day on Sunday. They beat East Seoul Little League of South Korea by a score of 2-1 to win the 2016 Little League World Series. The United States hasn’t had a team win it all since 2011, and Maine-Endwell was New York’s first team in the finals since 1964.

Maine-Endwell did everything a baseball team needs to if they want to win. They had great pitching from Ryan Harlost, who went six full innings (the length of a little league game), allowing just one run and striking out 8. They took advantage of mistakes, like when Harlost (he had a busy day) scored the winning run on a passed ball in the fourth inning. And they had some sparkling defense, like this catch from Maine-Endwell right fielder James Fellows.

That is straight up home run robbery, the kind you’d see in the majors. If Fellows hadn’t tracked that ball right to the wall, it would have gone out. That catch stopped East Seoul from scoring in the second inning, which could have changed the entire game.

President Obama called the team on Sunday to congratulate them on their win, and a big homecoming celebration is planned for Monday. Newyorkupstate.com had all the details so locals could participate. When the team arrives on the edge of town, they’ll receive a police and fire truck escort as they drive into the center of town. Residents have been encouraged to line the streets to greet them in an “unofficial procession.” Once the bus gets to Maine-Endwell’s home stadium, Struble Road Sports Complex, the kids will get to meet up with their parents and friends.

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According to newyorkupstate.com, school in Endwell starts next week. These kids get to say “Yeah, I won the Little League World Series,” and if there’s a better way to start the new school year, I’m not sure what it is.

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Liz Roscher is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at lizroscher@yahoo.com or follow her on twitter! Follow @lizroscher