There wasn't much flash in Cronulla Little League's fifth inning rally in the championship game of the Australian Region tournament at the Albert Park Baseball and Softball Complex in Lismore, New South Wales.

A selective hitter who worked a walk here, a well-executed bunt there; a flare that found a seam in the defense here, and a sacrifice fly after fighting off a pair of two-strike pitches there. Add it all up, and the Sharks methodically pulled from a 3-3 tie into a commanding 7-3 advantage.

Add it all up, and Cronulla was soon headed to the Little League World Series.

Cronulla completed a run to the Australian championship with a 7-3 championship game victory over Western Australia's Swan Hills Little League in the Australian Region championship game. The win was the Sharks' seventh against no defeats in the twenty-team tournament, and brought Cronulla its first championship in five appearances at the eight-year-old Australian championship tourney.

"We knew that we had a pretty special group here," said Cronulla manager Darren Fullerton after the championship game. "But as you know, you come up to something like this, and you need a little bit of luck along the way. You need to execute, and the hallmark of this team has been that we execute all the way down the order.

"You saw that here today," continued the Cronulla manager. "Not only swinging the bats, but understanding what the situation is. We had guys put the ball in play when you had to; bunts get down when they had to. I couldn't be more impressed with this group of kids."

Bunts played a key role in both of Cronulla's rallies in the championship game. Swan Hills had taken a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, but Cronulla rallied immediately to tie the score. Blake Cavill doubled and scored on Luke Krkovski's bloop single, and after Benjamin Andrews doubled, Koby Roberts drove in a run with a groundout. With two outs in the inning, Mark Natta's surprise bunt scored Andrews to give the Sharks their first lead of the game.

"Mark Natta's speed is rare," explained Darren Fullerton. "We always want him in the lineup because of that fact. He can swing it, but we get into a situation where Mark can put it on the ground, (and) it's very difficult."

Cronulla nursed its 3-2 advantage into the fifth inning, when Benjamin Hewett's solo home run tied the game, but the Sharks showcased their fundamentals while making another push in the bottom of the inning. Jake Burns walked on a full count pitch to open the inning, and Cavill then drew a four-pitch walk. After a pitching change, Cronulla again played small ball, and Swan Hills had no play on Krkovski's bunt single in front of the plate that loaded the bases with nobody out.

Andrews then fought off a pair of two-strike pitches before lofting a fly ball to center field that scored Burns with the eventual winning run. Samuel Jagoe-Fisher followed, splashing a single just past the second baseman -- Swan Hills had pulled their infield in -- and after Krkovski scored on a wild pitch, Roberts boomed a double down the left field line that one-hopped against the fence and scored special pinch runner Lachlan Regan.

Andrews retired Swan Hills in order in the top of the sixth, and lifted Cronulla to its first-ever Australian Little League championship.

"We utilize our talents," said Darren Fullerton. "You know, Mark (Natta)'s speed. A couple guys' power in there. Koby Roberts -- you know he's got pop and he lines (a pitch) off the fence. They've just continued to execute."

Krkovski pitched out of trouble in the early innings, stranding a pair of Swan Hills baserunners in each of the first three innings before settling down and retiring six in a row at one point. He scattered six hits over 4-2/3 innings. Andrews retired the only four batters he faced.

The championship game was the first Australian grand finale that included two first-time finalists since the inaugural Australian national tournament in 2008, but neither team was a stranger to the final stages of Australian tournament competition. Cronulla had reached the semifinal round in 2010, 2011, and 2013, as well as the quarterfinal round in 2014. Swan Hills steadily improved from reaching the quarterfinal round in 2013 and semifinal round in 2014 before advancing to the title game in 2015.

Cronulla's breakthrough to the title game came following a 4-2 win over Hills Little League in the semifinal round. Cavill led the way for the Sharks, throwing an 87-pitch complete game in which he struck out eleven batters and walked none. He also collected three hits in as many at-bats, and drove in Cronulla's first three runs.

After Hills took an early lead on Solomon MaGuire's run-scoring single in the first, Cavill belted a two-run homer to center field in the bottom of the inning to give his team a lead they would never relinquish. In the third, Cavill added a two-out single to center field that scored Kyle Yeo.

Cronulla extended the lead to 4-1, but Hills clawed one run back in the top of the sixth and had a pair of runners aboard with nobody out before Cavill struck out the side on ten pitches to end the game.

The win was Cronulla's third over Hills in four meetings in the international tournament. The Sharks won two of three contests in the New South Wales state tournament, including an 8-1 championship game decision.

Swan Hills, meanwhile, moved into the title game following a 6-1 win over Ryde North Little League in the other semifinal. The Aces claimed an early lead when Hewitt walked and later scored on a wild pitch in the first, and after Ryde North failed to capitalize on opportunities in the second and third -- the Eagles stranded five runners in those two innings -- Swan Hills broke the game open in the fourth. Hewett opened the inning with a single and scored on Jordan Shillingford's groundout, then with two outs, Josh Paull drove in a pair of runs with a double to left field.

The push made life easier for relief pitcher Daniel Carter, who entered in the second inning after starter Tyson Noel exited to preserve his eligibility for a possible championship game appearance. Carter struck out five over 4-2/3 innings, and allowed only an unearned run over the balance of the game.

"They've played hard and done all the things we've worked at over the past six months," said Swan Hills manager Arnie Noel after the win as he looked toward the championship game. "I'm very proud to get this opportunity."

Both finalists showcased strong pitching throughout the tournament. Cronulla allowed just seven runs in four pool contests -- the Sharks scored 81, and every game ended early due to the mercy rule -- and the only team to better than mark was Swan Hills, which allowed just five runs.

Both teams continued along that path in quarterfinal round wins, as Cronulla edged Western Australia powerhouse Perth Metro Central Little League, 3-1, and Swan Hills blanked the Southern Mariners Little League from Victoria, 4-0.

Two Cronulla pitchers combined on a two-hitter in the quarterfinal round win, as Cavill registered the first four outs before giving way to Burns as he hit the 20-pitch mark. Burns threw 4-2/3 innings of hitless relief, striking out eleven and allowing just an unearned run in the sixth to earn the victory.

Cronulla managed just three hits against Perth starter William Sheriff, who threw a 78-pitch complete game. They opened the scoring in the third when Keanu Cowley reached on an error and later scored on a wild pitch. In the fifth, the Sharks added two runs when Jagoe-Fisher plated Haydn Parker following a sacrifice fly, and Yeo singled home Myles Chabi, who had doubled earlier in the inning.

Swan Hills, meanwhile surrendered just three hits in their win over the Southern Mariners. Bailey-Jay Cooke faced and retired seven hitters before exiting at the 35-pitch mark, and Dustin Brown closed out the win and preserved the shutout.

Hewett doubled and scored in the second inning to put the Aces on the board, then Cooke added a two-run homer in the third. Maddux Stivey's run-scoring single later in the inning completed the Swan Hills scoring.

Cronulla collected Australia's second win in as many years in competition at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. After holding their own in an opening round, 5-2 loss to Cardenales Little League (Barquisimeto, Venezuela), the Sharks blanked Los Bravos de Pontezuela Little League (Santiago de los Caballero, Dominican Republic), 3-0, in an elimination game. Cronulla's tournament run ended following a 14-3 loss to Seguro Social Little League (Mexicali, Mexico) in an elimination quarterfinal round matchup.

Pool 'C' - Game 1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Perth Metro East	18	14	15	0							47	18	0
Northern Territory	0	0	0	1							1	5	12
Pool 'A' - Game 1
Manly	1	0	0	0	0	1					2	5	2
Southern Mariners	3	0	0	0	2	x					5	5	0
Pool 'A' - Game 2
Cronulla	3	7	12	9							31	14	2
Gold Coast	1	0	0	0							1	1	8
Pool 'C' - Game 2
Swan Hills	0	7	0	0	9						16	9	0
Adelaide West	0	0	0	0	0						0	2	5
Pool 'C' - Game 3
Central Coast	0	0	0	0	0	0					0	0	1
Perth Metro East	0	0	3	2	0	x					5	5	0
Pool 'A' - Game 3
Manly	2	4	0	3	0	0					9	13	1
West Coast	3	0	0	0	0	1					4	6	2
Pool 'B' - Game 1
Brisbane North	0	0	0	0							0	2	5
Adelaide North	0	4	8	x							12	10	0
Pool 'B' - Game 2
Perth Metro North	0	0	1	5	1	0					7	6	3
Hills	4	1	2	6	3	x					16	14	2
Pool 'C' - Game 4
Northern Territory	0	0	0	0							0	0	5
Central Coast	3	10	2	x							15	9	1
Pool 'A' - Game 4
Gold Coast	2	0	2	0	1	1					6	8	1
West Coast	0	0	0	1	0	0					1	3	3
Pool 'D' - Game 1
Canberra	1	0	0	0							1	4	3
Ryde North	4	2	0	5							11	10	1
Pool 'D' - Game 2
Northern Diamondbacks	1	0	2	0	0	0					3	8	4
Ryde South	4	0	2	0	2	x					8	3	2
Pool 'D' - Game 3
Perth Metro Central	4	3	0	0	10						17	12	1
Northern Diamondbacks	2	4	0	0	0						6	9	2
Pool 'B' - Game 3
Hills	6	3	3	6							18	15	1
Yarra Rangers	0	0	0	1							1	2	4
Pool 'A' - Game 5
Gold Coast	0	0	1	3	1	0					5	9	2
Southern Mariners	0	3	2	6	0	x					11	6	0
Pool 'B' - Game 4
Yarra Rangers	0	0	0	1							1	4	3
Adelaide North	4	2	5	x							11	6	3
Pool 'A' - Game 6
Cronulla	14	2	7	1							24	20	0
West Coast	0	0	0	3							3	2	5
Pool 'D' - Game 4
Ryde North	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	1		4	8	3
Perth Metro Central	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	0		3	5	0
Pool 'C' - Game 5
Central Coast	0	0	0	4	0	0					4	4	1
Swan Hills	2	0	3	4	2	x					11	10	2
Pool 'B' - Game 5
Yarra Rangers	0	1	3	2	1	4					11	10	1
Brisbane North	1	0	0	4	0	0					5	8	5
Pool 'A' - Game 7
Manly	0	0	1	0							1	3	0
Cronulla	6	0	6	x							12	11	0
Pool 'B' - Game 6
Adelaide North	0	2	0	0	0	1					3	4	1
Perth Metro North	3	1	0	0	2	x					6	5	0
Pool 'C' - Game 6
Perth Metro East	0	0	0	0	0	1					1	4	3
Swan Hills	5	0	3	0	1	x					9	7	0
Pool 'B' - Game 7
Hills	1	4	0	0	3	11					19	19	1
Brisbane North	0	0	0	0	0	0					0	3	3
Pool 'D' - Game 5
Canberra	0	0	0	0	3						3	4	1
Perth Metro Central	2	2	0	4	7						15	7	3
Pool 'D' - Game 6
Ryde North	6	1	2	14							23	17	3
Northern Diamondbacks	0	0	2	4							6	6	4
Pool 'C' - Game 7
Northern Territory	0	0	1	0							1	2	2
Adelaide West	0	4	4	4							12	11	0
Pool 'D' - Game 7
Canberra	0	0	0	0	0	0					0	1	3
Ryde South	2	0	0	2	5	x					9	5	0
Pool 'C' - Game 8
Central Coast	0	0	0	1							1	5	1
Adelaide West	2	1	6	2							11	13	0
Pool 'A' - Game 8
West Coast	1	0	1	0	1	6					9	6	0
Southern Mariners	0	0	0	0	0	0					0	0	3
Pool 'B' - Game 8
Hills	9	0	2	4							15	13	2
Adelaide North	0	0	0	0							0	2	3
Pool 'A' - Game 9
Gold Coast	0	0	4	1							5	8	1
Manly	4	7	11	x							22	16	3
Pool 'C' - Game 9
Northern Territory	0	0	0	0							0	0	2
Swan Hills	3	2	12	x							17	14	0
Pool 'D' - Game 8
Perth Metro Central	3	2	6	0	5						16	9	1
Ryde South	2	0	0	0	0						2	5	3
Pool 'B' - Game 9
Brisbane North	0	0	2	0							2	1	2
Perth Metro North	4	9	3	x							16	11	1
Pool 'A' - Game 10
Cronulla	1	4	8	1							14	11	1
Southern Mariners	0	2	0	0							2	2	6
Pool 'D' - Game 9
Canberra	0	1	1	3	0	1					6	4	2
Northern Diamondbacks	2	0	2	4	0	x					8	7	1
Pool 'D' - Game 10
Ryde South	0	0	0	5							5	4	2
Ryde North	0	0	9	6							15	14	1
Pool 'B' - Game 10
Perth Metro North	10	0	1	0	4						15	15	1
Yarra Rangers	0	2	0	0	0						2	4	1
Pool 'C' - Game 10
Perth Metro East	2	0	0	2	0	1					5	7	1
Adelaide West	2	0	0	0	0	0					2	5	0
Consolation Game
Gold Coast	0	0	0	0							0	0	3
Adelaide West	6	4	0	x							10	5	0
Consolation Game
Northern Territory	0	0	0	0	2						2	4	2
West Coast	4	0	4	1	3						12	14	2
Consolation Game
Canberra	2	3	2	0	1	0					8	8	2
Brisbane North	0	0	2	1	0	0					3	5	6
Consolation Game
Adelaide North	1	3	6	0	1	0					11	9	3
Yarra Rangers	1	0	0	1	4	x					6	9	2
Consolation Game
Ryde South	3	0	0	0	1	0					4	3	2
Central Coast	0	0	3	1	1	0					5	4	3
Consolation Game
Manly	2	1	1	5	1	0					10	16	0
Northern Diamondbacks	0	1	1	0	0	0					2	5	5
Quarterfinal Round
Hills	3	0	4	4	1						12	12	1
Perth Metro North	0	0	0	2	0						2	4	3
Quarterfinal Round
Southern Mariners	0	0	0	0	0	0					0	3	0
Swan Hills	0	1	3	0	0	x					4	7	0
Quarterfinal Round
Cronulla	0	0	1	0	2	0					3	3	2
Perth Metro Central	0	0	0	0	0	1					1	2	2
Quarterfinal Round
Perth Metro East	0	0	0	2							2	4	1
Ryde North	5	3	1	3							12	9	1
Consolation Game
Northern Territory	0	0	0	0							0	0	4
Brisbane North	7	8	4	x							19	13	0
Consolation Game
Perth Metro East	1	0	1	0	0	3	0				5	7	1
Southern Mariners	0	0	0	5	0	0	0				5	9	2
Consolation Game
Northern Diamondbacks	0	0	0	7	0	3					10	9	2
Yarra Rangers	3	5	6	0	0	x					14	7	1
Consolation Game
Manly	4	0	0	2	2	5					13	12	1
Adelaide North	1	0	0	2	3	2					8	4	1
Consolation Game
West Coast	0	0	6	0	0	0					6	6	0
Canberra	0	3	0	0	1	1					5	7	2
Consolation Game
Perth Metro Central	3	2	6	0	0						11	9	4
Perth Metro North	0	0	0	2	5						7	7	4
Consolation Game
Adelaide West	2	0	1	0	1	2					6	10	3
Central Coast	1	4	0	0	0	0					5	5	1
Consolation Game
Gold Coast	0	0	4	1	1	5					11	11	3
Ryde South	1	0	0	0	0	1					2	3	4
Semifinal Round
Hills	1	0	0	0	0	1					2	6	1
Cronulla	2	0	1	0	1	x					4	7	1
Semifinal Round
Swan Hills	0	1	0	3	1	1					6	7	1
Ryde North	0	0	0	0	1	0					1	7	0
Consolation Game
West Coast	0	0	0	2	0	0					2	5	0
Brisbane North	0	0	0	0	0	1					1	3	5
Consolation Game
Canberra	0	10	7	5							22	16	0
Northern Territory	0	0	0	1							1	2	6
Consolation Game - Fifteenth Place
Northern Diamondbacks	4	1	0	3	0	1					9	12	2
Ryde South	3	0	1	1	0	0					5	3	2
Consolation Game - Thirteenth Place
Yarra Rangers	0	2	4	2	1	0					9	7	2
Gold Coast	1	2	0	2	0	0					5	6	3
Consolation Game - Eleventh Place
Adelaide North	2	1	0	5	4						12	7	3
Central Coast	0	3	1	0	0						4	7	2
Consolation Game - Ninth Place
Manly	1	3	2	0	5	0					11	9	1
Adelaide West	4	0	3	2	0	0					9	11	2
Consolation Game - Seventh Place
Southern Mariners	0	3	1	0	0	0					4	5	3
Perth Metro North	1	2	1	2	0	x					6	4	2
Consolation Game - Fifth Place
Perth Metro East	0	0	0	0	0	1					1	2	2
Perth Metro Central	0	0	0	2	0	x					2	6	1
Consolation Game - Third Place
Hills	3	0	0	0	2	1					6	10	1
Ryde North	0	0	0	0	2	5					7	9	0
Championship Game
Swan Hills	0	2	0	0	1	0					3	6	0
Cronulla	0	3	0	0	4	x					7	8	2

Toward the past

Toward the present