Curaçao has won its second Little League World Series championship, defeating Nevada 11-2 in the final and ending a 22-year title drought. The victory marks the first time the nation has won the tournament since 2004.
The team from Willemstad rode a dominant pitching performance and a strong offensive showing to secure the championship. Nevada had initially taken a two-run lead in the second inning, but Curaçao quickly responded, tying the game in the third and then scoring nine runs over the subsequent three innings to secure the win.
Nevada, seeking its first world championship, had runners on base in the bottom of the sixth inning with a chance to narrow the deficit, but a long fly ball to center field was caught, ending the threat.
Curaçao, long considered a powerhouse in the Little League World Series, ran through the tournament undefeated in its bracket. The team is only the second in tournament history to win a title with the country's name on its uniform, following Japan. In a separate game, Japan defeated Ohio 4-2 in the consolation match.
This championship adds to a historic year for Curaçao in international sports, as its national soccer team also qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time and earned a point in the group stage.