Japan has moved one step closer to defending its title at the Little League World Series. Hamamatsu City starter Shoto Totsuka combined with relievers Hiroyasu Sugiura and Takuya Okamoto to five-hit Langley, British Columbia in a 4-0 win Tuesday. Japan moves on to play either Mexico or Venezuela Thursday. A team from Tokyo won the World Series last year. The central Pennsylvania favorite from the Keystone Little League beat Warner Robins from Georgia 7-5 in the night match, with many of the 32,000-plus in attendance driving the 50 kilometers from Clinton County to watch their team. Earlier, Cumberland, Rhode Island, had a 8-7 win over the Netherlands in a consolation game after Colin Cannata scored on an error in the bottom of the sixth. An earthquake centered in Virginia briefly rattled Lamade Stadium but play never stopped. A Little League official said the venue was deemed safe after a structural engineer's inspection. Japan initially had trouble adjusting to Canada starter Cole Cantelon at the plate, managing just a walk over two innings, but finally got the bats going in the third. Second baseman Ken Igeta had an RBI double to start the scoring in the three-run third, and catcher Asuya Otsuka added an RBI triple. Shoto Totsuka struck out four over two innings before giving way to relievers Hiroyasu Sugiura and Takuya Okamoto.
