The 2010 Little League World Series was held in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. It began on August 20 and ended on August 29. Eight teams from the United States and eight from throughout the world competed in the 64th edition of the Little League World Series. In the championship game, the international champions from Tokyo, Japan, defeated the United States champions from Waipahu, Hawaii. It was the seventh championship for Japan overall, and the first since 2003.
On April 14, 2010, Little League announced[1] that starting in 2010, round robin play would be replaced by a double-elimination bracket in each pool. The winners of each pool will advance to single elimination US and International Championship games and the winners of those games will advance to the World Championship game. Every team will play a minimum of three games: the four teams that lose their first two games will cross over and play special US vs. International games.
On August 2, 2010, it was announced that instant replay would be expanded. The system, which was first used in 2008, now includes force outs, tags along the base paths, missed bases, and hit batters as plays that are subject to review. Previously, only plays in which a dead ball would have resulted were able to be reviewed. Additionally, team managers are now allowed to challenge plays if the umpires have not already called for a replay. Before losing the right to challenge, managers are allowed only one unsuccessful challenge in the first six innings of a game, as well as one unsuccessful challenge in extra innings. Challenges must be made after the play in question and before the next pitch. A "replay team" located in an office at Howard J. Lamade Stadium will judge all plays under review.[2][3][4] The first challenge in LLWS history that resulted in an original ruling being overturned occurred on August 21, the second day of the tournament.[5] Prior to the championship game, instant replay had been used 16 times with 8 calls being overturned while the other 8 were upheld. The average amount of time needed for all reviews was 52 seconds.[6]
Teams that lost their first two games played a crossover game against a team from the other side of the bracket that also lost its first two games. These games were labeled Game A and Game B. This provided teams who were already eliminated the opportunity to play a third game.
The Edogawa Minami LL reached the LLWS with a record of 8 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie.[7] In total, their record was 13–1–1, their only loss coming against Musashi-Fuchu.
