Little League World Series 2023 final score, results: Louis Lappe's walk-off blast claims title for California over Curacao

Edward Sutelan

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Little League World Series 2023 final score, results: Louis Lappe's walk-off blast claims title for California over Curacao image

Louis Lappe has been a hero for El Segundo Little League throughout the Little League World Series. He got to play the role of hero one final time.

The California Little League third baseman stepped up to the plate in a 5-5 game, leading off the bottom of the sixth inning against Pabao Little League (Curacao). On a 1-0 pitch, a fastball from Jay-Dlynn Wiel caught too much of the plate and Lappe made him pay, launching a no-doubt home run to left field, firing a huge bat flip to celebrate the walk-off victory that claimed the 2023 Little League World Series title.

“It’s a Sunday Night ABC thriller that I love, and to do it with all these kids, now I can get emotional because now the mission is over," El Segundo coach Danny Boehle said on ESPN. "We started it three years ago. Finally made it. That was our mission to do it with my sons, all these boys, man. They all go to school, I’ve known them forever. It’s really, really a treat.”

For much of the game, it appeared California's team was going to cruise to a title over Curacao, marking the third straight trip Curacao's representative would lose the Little League World Series finals. Lucas Keldorf drove in Lappe and LLWS hits leader Brody Brooks to put California up 2-0 in the first. Curacao added a run in the third, but California staked out two more in the bottom half of the frame with Jaxon Kalish scoring a pair. California added one more in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single from Crew O'Connor.

In the top of the fifth, Curacao finally chased starter Ollie Parks with a one-out walk. Kalish walked a batter before having to leave midway through another with arm fatigue, bringing in Max Baker to pitch. Baker got the next out, but gave up a single to load the bases. After a strikeout, Curacao left fielder Nasir El-Ossais launched the second pitch he saw to right center for a game-tying grand slam.

MORE: Watch the Little League World Series live with Fubo (free trial) 

It was a memorable Little League World Series for Lappe, who finished with a LLWS-leading five home runs, including blasts in both the U.S. championship against Texas and the finals against Curacao. He also pitched 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball against Texas to help push California to the 6-1 win.

“I was just looking for a good pitch to hit," Lappe said of his walk-off home run. "My mentality was just get the next guy up, and if we kept doing that, we would’ve won either way. But I’ll take the homer.”

The victory for El Segundo marked the eighth total title for the state of California, the most of any U.S. state and ahead of all but Taiwan (17) and Japan (11) in the total count. 

The Sporting News tracked the latest updates and highlights from the California vs. Curacao LLWS final.

Little League World Series live updates, highlights from California vs. Curacao

  1 2 3 4 5 6 F
Curacao 0 0 1 0 4 0 5
California 2 0 2 1 0 1 6

(All times Eastern)

5:27 p.m. California scoring play: The Little League World Series' home run leader calls game. Lappe launches a walk-off home run to left to deliver the LLWS title to El Segundo. California wins 6-5.

5:21 p.m. End top sixth: California will get a chance to walk it off in the bottom half of the inning as Winklaar grounds into a fielder's choice to end the frame.

5:20 p.m.: Brooks gets Serverie chasing a breaker in the dirt for the second out. 

5:19 p.m.: Go-ahead runner reaches base on a five-pitch walk as Roach reaches. Serverie due up.

5:18 p.m.: Backdoor bender from Brooks catches Fernandez looking for the first out in the sixth.

5:15 p.m.: Brooks comes in to pitch to start the top of the sixth, with Fernandez, Roach and Serverie due up.

5:12 p.m. End of fifth: Outstanding catch in shallow right by Roach, the second baseman, to rob Brooks of a bloop base hit and retire the side in order.

5:12 p.m.: Back-to-back punchouts as Wiel gets Salazar swinging on a 2-2 pitch for the second out.

5:10 p.m.: Lee is caught looking at a fastball on the down-and-away corner for the first out in the bottom of the fifth.

5:05 p.m. End top fifth: Jacobus just missed a go-ahead blast, instead flying out to Parks in left field to keep the game tied. But California now heads to the bottom of the fifth in a brand new ball game.

5:03 p.m. Curacao scoring play: In the biggest moment of the game, El-Ossais comes up unbelievably clutch. He crushes the second pitch he sees, sending it to right-center for a game-tying grand slam. Curacao ties the game 5-5.

5:02 p.m.: Wiel chases a breaking pitch in the dirt for strike three. El-Ossais will bat with the bases loaded and two away.

5 p.m.: Felicia lines the first pitch he sees into right for a single that loads the bases for Wiel, Curacao's best hitter. Only one away.

4:58 p.m.: With a full count, Kalish has to leave the mound with what appears to be arm soreness. He was pointing to his upper right arm right after his last pitch. Baker will come in to pitch and face Felicia, who still has a full count.

4:54 p.m.: Helmijr moves up to second on a wild pitch, and Ferreras walks to set Curacao up with runners on first and second and one away in the top of the fifth with Felicia due up.

4:51 p.m.: Coach Danny Boehle praises the work of Parks, who leaves the game in the top of the fifth having pitched 4.1 innings with four hits, four walks and six strikeouts and just the one run allowed. He is responsible for the runner on first. Kalish will come in to pitch for California.

4:50 p.m.: Helmijr works a six-pitch walk give Curacao a one-out baserunner.

4:48 p.m.: Still in the game to start the top of the fifth, Parks gets Martie to swing and miss at a breaking pitch for the first out of the frame.

4:43 p.m. End of fourth: Four strikeouts, one inning for Wiel, who gets Green swinging to end the frame. But California still leaves the inning with another run added to its tally.

4:43 p.m.: Wiel collects his third strikeout of the inning, but Parks is able to reach on a wild pitch to get runners on first and second with two away for Green.

4:41 p.m.: Wiel bounces back to get Boehle to strike out swinging for the second out with a runner still on first.

4:40 p.m.: O'Connor likes the first pitch he sees, and grounds a base hit into left for an RBI single. California adds another to its advantage to now stake a four-run lead in the fourth. California extends its lead to 5-1.

4:40 p.m.: A clutch strikeout for Wiel as he gets McRoberts to go down swinging on a 2-2 count for the first out.

4:38 p.m.: California is right back at it trying to add to its lead, with Baker lining a triple into right to start the bottom half of the fourth. El Segundo already leads by three with Curacao batting only two more times in Sunday's championship contest.

4:34 p.m. End top fourth: A brisk, seven-pitch inning for Parks as Winklaar grounds out to short for the third out.

4:33 p.m.: Serverie bounces out to second on the second pitch he sees for the second out of the inning.

4:32 p.m.: Great play by Keldorf, who fields a bunt off the bat of Roach and fires a strike to first to get the speedy baserunner on the bunt-hit attempt to start the top of the fourth.

4:27 p.m. End of third: Keldorf grounds out to the pitcher to end the third, but not before California has the chance to add to its advantage.

4:26 p.m. California scoring play: Kalish drives a grounder through the right side of the infield to drive in Lee and Brooks. Lappe and Kalish each move into scoring position on the throw as California looks for another chance to tack on. California extends its lead to 4-1.

4:25 p.m.: Lappe walks to load up the bases for Kalish with two outs.

4:23 p.m.: Wiel comes in to pitch for Serverie, who exits after throwing 53 pitches. He's responsible for runners on first and second, and currently has allowed two runs across 2.2 innings with three hits, two walks and five strikeouts.

4:21 p.m.: Brooks works a nine-pitch walk to give Lappe a chance to bat with runners on first and second and two away.

4:16 p.m.: Another strikeout for Serverie as Lennon comes up empty on a pitch outside the zone. Brooks back up looking to keep the California half going.

4:15 p.m.: Colby Lee reaches first on a five-pitch walk.

4:13 p.m.: Serverie paints the high-and-away corner with a fastball to catch Finley Green looking for strike three.

4:08 p.m. End top third: Curacao coach Zaino Everett thought Parks balked, which would have brought in a run, but instead Parks is granted time on the mound. The next pitch, he gets Fernandez to roll a grounder to second to escape the jam. Parks is now up to 56 pitches on the afternoon.

4:06 p.m. Curacao scoring play: Jacobus puts Curacao on the board, lining a base hit into center to drive home Weil. El-Ossais is held up at third to keep runners in scoring position for Fernandez. California still leads 2-1.

4:06 p.m.: Wild pitch with Jacobus up to bat moves Weil and El-Ossais both up, giving Curacao a chance to bat with two runners in scoring position.

4:04 p.m.: Weil grounds a base hit past the glove of Parks and up the middle into center for a two-out base hit. El-Ossais follows that up with a hit of his own to give Curacao runners on first and second with two away.

4:02 p.m.: Grounder back to the mound off the bat of Jayvery Felicia, with Parks flipping it over to first to record the second out.

4 p.m.: Parks starts the top of the third by getting Juan Cleto Ferreras to strike out swinging on high heat. 

3:56 p.m. End of second: Parks grounds out to second to end the second.

3:55 p.m.: Quinn Boehle comes up empty on a high fastball. Serverie appears to be much more settled in to start the second.

3:53 p.m.: Crew O'Connor lines out to Roach at second on the second pitch he sees for a quick out No. 1.

3:49 p.m. End top second: Parks escapes potential danger for a second straight inning as Helmir Helmijr grounds into a 6-4-3 double play that ends the top of the second. Curacao has left three runners on through the first two innings.

3:48 p.m.: Strikeout No. 4 for Parks as he catches Yaedon Lourens Martie looking at a front-door breaking ball for the first out.

3:47 p.m.: Curacao is in the hit column as D'Shawn Winklaar dribbles a grounder through the left side of the infield to give Curacao runners on first and second with no one out to start the second.

3:46 p.m.: Back-to-back innings with a leadoff walk for Curacao as Serverie lays off a pitch high and outside from his opposite number.

3:40 p.m. End of first: Declan McRoberts goes down swinging for the third out, but the damage is done as California jumps out to an early 2-0 advantage.

3:39 p.m.: Max Baker lines out to center, not deep enough to advance Keidorf to third. Two away.

3:38 p.m. California scoring play: Lucas Keldorf crushes a line drive to center that nearly leaves the yard, but instead hits off the top of the wall to score both Brooks and Lappe, and put him on second with a double. California takes a 2-0 lead.

3:37 p.m.: Kalish comes up empty on an 0-2 count as Serverie picks up the first out of the frame.

3:36 p.m.: 0-2 count? No problem for Louis Lappe, who hits a hard grounder between third and short to give California runners on first and second for Jaxon Kalish.

3:34 p.m.: The LLWS' hit leader adds another to his impressive stretch as Brody Brooks dribbles a 2-2 pitch to third, and reaches on an infield single to start the California half with a baserunner.

3:28 p.m. End top first: Parks gets his third strikeout of the game as he gets Roach to swing and miss at a high fastball to strand a pair of runners on first and second. Curacao made him work, getting Parks' pitch count up to 22 in the first inning, but ultimately come up scoreless in the top of the first.

3:25 p.m.: Wiel moves up on a passed ball as Joshua Acosta Fernandez works the count up to 3-2 after falling behind 0-2. He lays off a pitch inside for ball four to put runners on first and second with Alexander Provacia Roach due up.

3:24 p.m.: Make it back-to-back punchouts as Shermar Sophia Jacobus is set down looking for the second out.

3:23 p.m.: High fastball gets El-Ossais to strike out swinging for the first out of the game.

3:20 p.m.: A quick four-pitch walk to Wiel starts the game, and brings up Nasir El-Ossais.

3:20 p.m.: Parks' first pitch to Jay-Dlynn Wiel is outside the zone for a ball, and this title game is underway.

3:09 p.m.: Moments away from the LLWS title game. It will be Ollie Parks taking the mound for California against Sean Serverie for Curacao. 

2:48 p.m.: Just over 10 minutes to go until the start of the Little League World Series championship. 

2:20 p.m.: Think these teams are ready to win a LLWS title? They'll throw out the first pitch in 40 minutes.

What time does the Little League World Series championship start today?

  • Date: Sunday, Aug. 27
  • Time: 3 p.m. ET

The Little League World Series concludes with its championship on Sunday, Aug. 27. 

The final contest is scheduled to take place at 3 p.m. ET from Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. 

What channel is California vs. Curacao on today?

  • TV channel: ABC
  • Live stream: Fubo | ESPN+

The championship game of the 2023 Little League World Series will air live on ABC. It is the final game of the tournament. 

For the fans looking to stream the action, live streaming the game is available on ESPN+ or Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers. 

Little League World Series rosters

Here are the rosters for Curacao and California:

California

Number Player Pos. B/T
3 Lennon Salazar OF L/R
4 Finley Green IF/OF/P         R/R
8 Quinn Boehle OF/P L/R
9 Lucas Keldorf C R/R
10 Colby Lee       IF/P R/R
13 Max Baker IF/OF/P L/R
14 Brody Brooks IF/P R/R
15 Declan McRoberts      IF/OF/P R/R
16 Ollie Parks OF/P R/R
19 Louis Lappe IF/P R/R
21 Crew O'Connor IF/OF R/R
22 Jaxon Kalish 1B/P/C L/R

Coaching staff: Danny Boehle (manager), Tim Abrams, Eddie Lee

Curacao

Number Player Pos. B/T
4 Jayvery Felicia OF/P R/R
5 Joshua Acosta Fernandez   CF/P S/R
6 D'Shawn Winklaar OF R/R
8 Alexander Provacia Roach 2B/P R/R
9 Shemar Sophia Jacobus UTL R/R
10 Jay-Dlynn Wiel SS/P R/R
12 Sean Serverie 1B/3B/P R/R
13 Nasir El-Ossais LF/3B/P R/R
15 Nathan Nahr C R/R
17 Helmir Helmijr P L/L
19 Juan Cleto Ferreras P R/R
21 Yaedon Lourens Martie 1B/C R/R

Coaching staff: Zaino Everett (manager), Ildion Martina, Ringemar Raap

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.