Florida has come painfully close to winning the Little League World Series plenty of times in the tournament's history but had never gotten over the hump. That pattern seemed set to continue at least one more year in the 2024 championship game Sunday.
The squad from Lake Mary was down to its final out in the bottom of the sixth inning after missing a handful of opportunities earlier in the game. But DJ Mieses delivered when it mattered most and smacked an RBI double into left field to tie the game.
Two innings later, a sacrifice bunt intended to move a runner over from second base to third turned out to be a moment 12 kids will never forget. Chinese Taipei fielded the bunt but threw it to an uncovered first base, sending the ball into the outfield and allowing Florida to score.
Pitching won the day for Lake Mary, as Jacob Bibaud was able to settle in after a shaky first inning and keep Taiwan to just one hit through the first four innings. There were opportunities for Chinese Taipei to break through down the stretch, but no insurance run ever came.
It's heartbreak for Taiwan and manager Lee Cheng-Ta, who has been in this position before. Florida, though, will head back to Lake Mary on top of the world after a walk-off title.
The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from the championship game of the Little League World Series on Sunday. Check out all of the key moments you might have missed.
MORE: Full roster for Florida's Little League World Series team
Little League World Series championship final score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | F | |
| Chinese Taipei | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Little League World Series updates, highlights from Florida vs. Chinese Taipei
(All times Eastern)
Final: Florida 2, Chinese Taipei 1
6:25 p.m. — FLORIDA WINS THE LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES! A bunt intended to move the ghost runner over to third is fielded, but there was no one at first to receive the throw. After coming one out away from a shutout loss, Lake Mary wins the championship.
6:22 p.m. — Chinese Taipei hits it nearly to the warning track, but Florida gets the final out and will again have a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the inning.
6:18 p.m. — Taiwan has a runner on second with one out in the eighth, looking to break through for the first time since the first inning.
6:14 p.m. — Taiwan gets the strikeout, the third of the inning, to narrowly escape the jam. Let's play eight!
6:11 p.m. — Wow, a line drive down the left field line NEARLY sends Calo home, but Florida holds him up. That was probably the right call, but it was close. Florida again has a runner on third (and first), this time with a chance to win it.
6:10 p.m. — Alexander goes down on strikes, and Taiwan is one out away from forcing an eighth inning.
6:08 p.m. — Luis Calo works a one-out walk from Florida, bringing up Teraj Alexander.
6:06 p.m. — Liam Morrisey goes down on a questionable strike three call to start the bottom of the seventh.
6:02 p.m. — Another pop-up in foul territory ends the inning. Florida has a chance to walk this thing off.
6:01 p.m. — Hu Yen-Chin fights off a bunch of pitches from Norton, but he ultimately pops up behind the plate for the second out.
5:55 p.m. — Chinese Taipei starts the seventh with two runners on and one out as Liao Hsuan-Hao laces past third base. Florida is looking to work out of a jam already.
5:49 p.m. — A groundout sends this game to extras. Free baseball!
Florida 1, Chinese Taipei 1
5:47 p.m. RBI DOUBLE — FLORIDA TIES IT! Mieses bloops a double into left, and Lake Mary is able to break through and get the run home. Wow. It's 1-1, and Florida has a chance to walk it off.
5:45 p.m. — Landon Bono walks, and suddenly Florida has a runner in scoring position and the winning run on first. Here comes DJ Mieses.
5:43 p.m. — Taiwan gets two outs, and it'll all come down to this.
5:37 p.m. — A hit-by-pitch gets the party started for Florida. Let's see what Lake Mary can do with it.
5:32 p.m. — Florida makes quick work of Taiwan in the sixth, and now it will all come down to the top of the order in the bottom of the inning.
5:28 p.m. — Norton gets a quick strikeout to start the top of the sixth.
5:24 p.m. — Taiwan works around the single, getting a huge strikeout to end the inning. Florida will have one more chance, but they are going to want to keep the deficit at one.
5:19 p.m. — A one-out single gives Florida a bit of hope, but driving in runs has not come easily today.
5:14 p.m. — Exhale, Florida. Chinese Taipei flies out to leave the bases loaded, keeping the deficit to one for Lake Mary.
5:12 p.m. — Florida gets one huge out with a flyout too shallow for Taiwan to score on. Two outs.
5:10 p.m. — Norton starts his day by issuing a walk to load the bases, though the double play is now on the table.
5:05 p.m. — Lin Sheng-Kai laces a one-out double, and this is now a huge opportunity for Taiwan with two runners in scoring position. Florida is bringing in Lathan Norton as its next pitcher.
5:02 p.m. — Hu Yen-Chun comes through with Taiwan's second hit of the day as he singles to lead off the fifth.
4:57 p.m. — Florida hits one hard to right field, but it's caught to end the inning. Florida has had a runner reach third base in each of the last three innings but has nothing to show for it. Chinese Taipei leads 1-0 through four.
4:54 p.m. — After a long review, the call stands and Morrisey will stay at third with two outs and Florida trailing 1-0.
4:51 p.m. — The play is being reviewed, apparently to determine whether Morrisey intentionally tried to knock the ball out of Yen-Chun's glove.
4:49 p.m. — What a wild sequence. Liam Morrisey singles with two outs, then he tries to catch Taiwan sleeping and makes a run for second. They get Morrissey in a rundown, he appears to be dead in the water, but the throw back to first base gets away and Morrissey is told to advance to third. Meanwhile, Hu Yen-Chen injured his wrist on the play.
4:40 p.m. — Wow, what a play by Chase Anderson to get the third out of the inning and keep Taiwan scoreless for the third consecutive inning. Pressure is building on Florida's offense now.
4:32 p.m. — Bono hits a soft grounder to first, and that's the end of another prime opportunity for Florida's offense.
4:30 p.m. — Florida just narrowly avoids a double play, so it'll be first and third with two outs for Landon Bono.
4:29 p.m. — JJ Feliciano hits a laser off the third baseman's glove and sets up first and second with two outs. Zhi-Kai is staying in the game.
4:27 p.m. — A one-out single gives Florida some life in the third as Zhi-Kai's pitch count starts to become elevated.
4:20 p.m. — An easy third inning for Bibaud as Florida's lineup now tries to rebuild some of the momentum from the last inning. The lineup is set to be turned over after the first batter.
4:18 p.m. — Bibaud gets a quick couple of outs again as he continues to look much more comfortable than he did in the first.
4:12 p.m. — Ciou Zhi-Kai gets the huge strikeout to end the inning, somehow escaping without allowing a run. Chinese Taipei holds a 1-0 lead through two.
4:10 p.m. — Christopher Chikodroff laces a single to right, but the runner is held at third. Florida has the bases loaded again, this time with two outs.
4:06 p.m. — Taiwan gets a force out at home and the tag at third, which is about the best-case scenario: a double play without allowing a run. Smart baseball.
4:04 p.m. — A walk loads the bases for Florida as "USA" chants ring out from the crowd. Here comes Teraj Alexander with a massive opportunity.
4:02 p.m. — A hit-by-pitch really gets things going for Florida in the bottom of the second, as Lake Mary now has runners on first and second with nobody out. Taiwan faced the same scenario in the first and got a run out of it.
3:57 p.m. — Taiwan is retired 1-2-3 in the second, but it took a nice catch on a ball that was scorched to end the inning. Chinese Taipei leads 1-0.
3:55 p.m. — Bibaud looks much more comfortable in the second as he gets a pair of quick outs.
3:48 p.m. — DeMarco Mieses strikes out to end the first, leaving two runners stranded.
3:44 p.m. — Garrett Rohozen works a walk to give Florida its first baserunner.
3:42 p.m. — Chen Bo-Wei makes a great play in the infield to get the second out of the inning. Taiwan starter Ciou Zhi-Kai looks comfortable so far.
3:35 p.m. — Bibaud gets a deep flyout to end the inning, keeping Taiwan at one run. Florida will try to match that or better in the bottom of the first after an extended half-inning.
Chinese Taipei 1, Florida 0
3:32 p.m. RBI SINGLE — Hu Yen-Chun hits it off the glove of an infielder, and there isn't much Florida can do at that point. The rocket off Yen-Chun's bat drives the first run of the game home for Chinese Taipei.
3:31 p.m. — Bibaud can briefly exhale, as he started Hsuan-Hao 3-0 but induced an pop-up for the second out. Let's see if he can work around the early walks.
3:28 p.m. — Zhuang Jie grounds out but moves the runners over and sets up a one-out RBI opportunity for Liao Hsuan-Hao.
3:26 p.m. — Make it back-to-back walks issued by Bibaud, who finds himself in an early jam with no outs. Chinese Taipei's lineup is known for its patience and contact hitting.
3:25 p.m. — Wei-Che works a walk to start the day.
3:20 p.m. — Chiu Wei-Che leads off for Taiwan, facing Jacob Bibaud.
3:15 p.m. — Lineups are being introduced, and now first pitch is on tap.
3:00 p.m. — Florida and Chinese Taipei are about to get underway in Williamsport.
1:50 p.m. — A team from Florida has never won the Little League World Series, but Florida has been a runner up numerous times (most recently in 2003).
1:40 p.m. — It's set to be about 84 degrees and sunny at first pitch, so don't expect any interruptions as Florida faces Chinese Taipei for the title.
What time does Florida vs. Chinese Taipei start today?
- Date: Sunday, Aug. 25
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
The Little League World Series championship game is set to start at 3 p.m. ET from Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport, Pa.
What channel is Florida vs. Chinese Taipei on today?
- TV channel: ABC
- Live stream: Fubo
The Little League World Series championship game will be broadcast nationally on ABC. Viewers can stream the game with Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Little League World Series rosters
Here are the rosters for Florida and Chinese Taipei as they compete for the Little League World Series title.
Florida
| Number | Player | Position |
| 7 | Chase Anderson | SS/2B/CF |
| 8 | Christopher Chikodroff | P/OF |
| 9 | Lathan Norton | OF/P/3B |
| 10 | Hunter Alexander | 2B/3B |
| 12 | Jacob Bibaud | OF/P |
| 14 | JJ Feliciano | SS/3B/P |
| 15 | Liam Morrisey | CF/P |
| 18 | Luis Calo | P/OF |
| 19 | Landon Bono | C/P/3B |
| 22 | Garrett Rohozen | UTIL |
| 25 | DeMarco Mieses | 1B |
| 26 | Teraj Alexander | 1B/C/P |
Chinese Taipei
| Number | Player | Positon |
| 7 | Chen Bo-Wei | SS |
| 8 | Ciou Zhi-Kai | P/CF |
| 14 | Chiu Wei-Che | P/RF |
| 15 | Hu Yen-Chun | 1B |
| 16 | Liao Hsuan-Hao | P/RF |
| 17 | Yu Teng-Hao | P/3B |
| 18 | Peng Yi-Yen | 2B |
| 19 | Lai Cheng-Xi | P/RF |
| 21 | Lin Chun-Yi | LF |
| 22 | Lin Sheng-Kai | P/RF |
| 23 | Yu Chia-Jui | P/C/2B |
| 25 | Zhuang Jie | 1B/LF |