Little League Intermediate World Series: Mexico Beats South Korea 7-4 to Reach International Championship

10 September 2025

Mexico Books Spot in International Championship

Seven runs, a three-RBI burst from Carlos Valdez, and a clean catch for the final out — Mexico is moving on. In a 7-4 semifinal win over South Korea on Aug. 1, 2025, in Livermore, California, the Mexico Region champions did the heavy lifting early and kept their nerve late to secure a place in the International Championship at the Little League Intermediate World Series.

Mexico wasted no time. They punched first, stacking a 3-0 cushion in the opening frames with crisp swings and smart baserunning. The swing that set the tone belonged to Valdez, who lashed a line drive into right-center to plate two. His third RBI came later on another sharp single, the kind of steady, no-doubt contact that makes pitching changes feel inevitable.

South Korea, representing West Seoul Little League and riding in with a spotless 5-0 regional mark, didn’t fade. They chipped away to 3-2, fueled by pressure on the bases and a heads-up dash from Kim, who scored from third during a sequence that muddied Mexico’s fielding rhythm. For a few tense minutes, the game looked like it might swing.

Instead, Mexico answered with depth. A grounder that skipped past second and into center rattled South Korea’s defense and pushed across two more. Those insurance runs mattered, because nothing came easy in the last two innings. A deep fly to right was dropped, gifting South Korea another run and a sliver of hope. But Mexico closed it out when a high pop behind the plate settled into catcher Aguilar’s glove. Ballgame.

The win sets up a rematch with Venezuela on Aug. 5 — the kind of matchup that carries more bite when teams have already felt each other’s fastballs and seen the infield hops on this 50/70-sized diamond. The International champion will meet the U.S. champion for the world title in Livermore, a stage built for momentum, nerve, and clean defense.

How the Game Was Won

Mexico’s plan was simple and visible: put the ball in play early, stretch leads, and make South Korea chase. Valdez’s three RBIs were the headline, but the supporting plays stacked up. Early contact forced infield decisions. Aggressive but controlled baserunning turned singles into scoring chances. And when South Korea tightened the score, Mexico slowed the pace and got back to line drives and ground balls — the stuff that travels in any park.

South Korea’s response was classic regional-champion baseball: patience in the box, pressure on the basepaths, and opportunistic scoring. Kim’s take off from third during a defensive hiccup pulled the game into a tighter window. Later, the deep fly to right — dropped under pressure — made it 7-4 and quieted a section of Mexico’s fans. It took clean handling on a late bunt attempt and that final pop-up to end the threat.

Defense decided chunks of this one. Mexico’s outfield miscue put a run on the board, but the infield covered well, especially in late innings when the ball found short and second with runners moving. Aguilar’s catch on the final pitch wasn’t flashy, but it said everything about how Mexico closed — no throw needed, just secure the ball and walk off.

Valdez will grab the spotlight for his three RBIs, yet Mexico’s lineup balance made it tough for South Korea to play the matchups. Contact bats at the top did their job. The middle delivered the damage. The bottom kept turning it over, burning pitches and forcing defensive looks. In youth tournament play, where pitch-count rules can dictate strategy, that kind of lineup shape is gold.

South Korea didn’t go quietly. West Seoul’s group came in off a perfect regional run, and they brought the same approach: compact swings, smart reads, and pressure on every infield touch. Their best stretch came in the middle innings, when they cut the deficit to one and had Mexico on its heels. The problem? Mexico kept answering with traffic, and the miscues — the skipping grounder into center, the infield hesitation — cost runs that are tough to claw back at this level.

The setting matters here too. The Intermediate division uses a 50-foot mound and 70-foot basepaths, a bridge between the small field and full-size regulation. Leads, steals, and pickoffs are live, and the game plays faster. Teams that handle the running game and hit to gaps usually thrive. Mexico checked those boxes, and when the moment came to finish, the catcher did the rest.

What’s next is simple and loaded: Mexico vs. Venezuela for the International crown. It’s a rematch, which means scouting is done and surprises are few. Expect early motion on the bases and managers guarding pitch counts like gold. The winner meets the U.S. champion for the world title in Livermore, where one more clean inning — or one misplayed hop — can reshape a summer.

For South Korea, the run ends earlier than they wanted, but the standard they carried into Livermore was clear. A perfect 5-0 through Asia-Pacific regional play, a surge back into a tight semifinal, and the kind of pressure that forces mistakes — that’s a strong tournament by any measure. For Mexico, it’s a ticket to Saturday’s showcase feel, with a lineup that has already shown it can score early and hold the line when the field gets loud.

One number lingers: three. That’s Valdez’s RBI total, and it stands as the difference between a nervy one-run finish and a two-possession cushion in the late frames. In tournament baseball, the stars get noticed, but it’s often the insurance that gets remembered. Mexico found it, protected it, and now gets one more swing at the stage it wanted from day one.