| 1 | Mexico's Raul Leon (24) celebrates as he rounds third after hitting a three-run home run off Taiwan's Yen Cheng Yu during the first inning of an International elimination baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, in South Williamsport, Pa. |
| 2 | Former New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, center, poses for a picture with the Little League team from Venezuela before accepting his award for being named to the Little League Hall of Fame, before a U.S. elimination baseball game between Bonita, Calif., and Bowling Green, Ky. at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. |
| 3 | SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. |
| 4 | Mexico catcher Raul Leon, three teammates and their manager were waiting in the narrow hallway for their turn at the interview room inside Lamade Stadium. |
| 5 | They spotted one of baseball's greatest players walking toward them. |
| 6 | Yes, it was Mariano Rivera. |
| 7 | They had to get a photo. |
| 8 | But who would take it? |
| 9 | Just then, the manager of the Taiwan team they had just eliminated with an 11-1 victory exited the interview room and offered to snap the group shot. |
| 10 | Perfect. |
| 11 | "That's what it is all about," the record-setting Yankees closer said Tuesday. |
| 12 | "Competition. Nothing personal, just competition." |
| 13 | Rivera hung around to get inducted into the Little League Hall of Excellence, throwing a ceremonial first pitch to Bowling Green, Kentucky catcher Jonah Thurman - a perfect strike, of course - before the night game. |
| 14 | That was the only good moment for the Kentucky team, which committed four errors while getting eliminated by Bonita, California 11-3. |
| 15 | By that time, Mexico was relaxing and waiting to find out who comes next in its bracket. |
| 16 | They hope it's Japan. |
| 17 | Leon, the cleanup hitter for Mexicali Baja California, had three hits and drove in five runs as Taipei, Taiwan was eliminated. |
| 18 | Mexico gets a day off before playing the loser of a game between undefeated Japan and Venezuela on Wednesday afternoon. |
| 19 | Mexico lost to Japan 3-1 early in the tournament. |
| 20 | Asked which team he'd rather face, manager Jorge Joel Armenta didn't flinch: "We want to play Japan. We want the revenge." |
| 21 | Their catcher played the biggest role in getting them in position for a possible rematch, playing a bit like his hero in the major leagues. |
| 22 | Leon drove in only one run during Mexicali's first three games. |
| 23 | On Tuesday, he homered in the first inning for a 3-0 lead, spreading his arms in celebration as he rounded the bases. |
| 24 | In the second inning, he came up with the bases loaded and singled sharply to center field for two more runs during a four-run rally. |
| 25 | He finished 3 for 3 overall. |
| 26 | The catcher who led the way was asked which catcher he admires most in the majors. |
| 27 | "Yadier Molina, because he's the best catcher in MLB," he said quickly, referring to the St. Louis Cardinals' All-Star. |
| 28 | As Mexicali celebrated the big early lead, Taiwan started to feel the pressure. |
| 29 | "It made our players nervous, giving up those hits to Mexico," manager Min Nan Lai said. |
| 30 | "We became anxious and that was the biggest reason we could not win this game." |
| 31 | Armando Verdugo allowed one earned run and six hits in five innings, striking out six. |
| 32 | It wasn't all hitting and pitching. |
| 33 | Mexicali second baseman Andres Villa made a smooth play when he scooped a grounder with his glove to the shortstop to start a double play in the second inning. |
| 34 | Villa hit a two-run homer in the fifth, and Ernesto Rios followed with another drive. |
| 35 | "This was like a final for us," Villa said. |
| 36 | "I knew I had to win it." |
| 37 | After throwing his ceremonial pitch before the night game, Rivera agreed to Bonita's request to autograph its batting helmets. |
| 38 | The California team then took control right away, scoring three runs in the first inning with the help of a pair of errors. |
| 39 | Levi Mendez hit a two-run homer in the second for a 5-0 lead, and Antonio Andrade homered in the fifth. |
| 40 | Bonita will play the loser of the game on Wednesday night between Texas and Pennsylvania. |
| 41 | The winner of that game advances to the championship of the U.S. bracket. |
| 42 | AP freelance writer Cody Butler contributed to this report. |
| 43 | Mexico's Raul Leon reacts as he rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run off Taiwan's Yen Cheng Yu during the first inning of an International elimination baseball game at the Little League World Series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, in South Williamsport, Pa. |
| 44 | Mexico's Raul Leon, left, celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the first inning of an International elimination baseball game Taiwan at the Little League World Series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, in South Williamsport, Pa. |
| 45 | Mexico won 11-1. |
| 46 | Mexico's Ernesto Rios, right, celebrates with teammate Gerardo Lujano after hitting a game-ending solo-home run off Taiwan's Hao En Yang in the fifth inning of an International elimination baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. |
| 47 | Taiwan shortstop Cheng Yu Yang covers his face with his cap after Mexico's Ernesto Rios hit a solo home run during the fifth inning of an international elimination baseball game at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. |
| 48 | Mexico's Raul Leon, left, raises his arms as he nears home on his three-run home run off Taiwan's Yen Cheng Yu during the first inning of an international elimination baseball game at the Little League World Series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, in South Williamsport, Pa. |
| 49 | Mexico won 11-1 in five innings. |
| 50 | Mexico celebrates near Taiwan catcher Bo Rui Chen after Ernesto Rios hit a home run during the fifth inning of an international elimination baseball game at the Little League World Series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, in South Williamsport, Pa. |
| 51 | Taiwan's Hao En Yang collects himself on the mound after giving up a solo home run to Mexico's Ernesto Rios during the fifth inning of an international elimination baseball game at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. |
| 52 | Taiwan's Hao En Yang wipes his face after giving up a solo home run to Mexico's Ernesto Rios during the fifth inning of an international elimination baseball game at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. |
| 53 | Mexico's Ernesto Rios (4) rounds first past Taiwan's Yen Cheng Yu after hitting a game-ending solo-home run off Taiwan's Hao En Yang in the fifth inning of an International elimination baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, in South Williamsport, Pa. |
| 54 | Former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera throws out the first pitch before a United States elimination baseball game between Bonita, Calif. and Bowling Green, Ky. at the Little League World Series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, in South Williamsport, Pa. |
| 55 | Rivera was inducted into the Little League Hall of Excellence on Tuesday night between games of its World Series. |
| 56 | Former New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, left, visits with a member of the Little League team from Venezuela before accepting his award for being named to the Little League Hall of Fame, before an U.S. elimination baseball game between Bonita, Calif., and Bowling Green, Ky. at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. |
| 57 | Eli Burwash, right, of Bowling Green, Ky., reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Levi Mendez, left, of Bonita, Calif., during the second inning of a U.S. elimination baseball game at the Little League World Series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, in South Williamsport, Pa. |
| 58 | Bonita, Calif.'s Dante Schmid pitches during the first inning of a U.S. elimination baseball game against Bowling Green, Ky., at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. |
| 59 | Bowling Green, Ky.'s Ty Bryant, left, leaps for a wide throw as Bonita, Calif.'s Antonio Andrade slides into second base on a ball hit by Nate Nankil during the first inning of a U.S. elimination baseball game at the Little League World Series, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015, in South Williamsport, Pa. |
| 60 | Andrade scored on the errant throw. |
| 61 | Bonita, Calif.'s Jacob Baptista (23) celebrates with Cameron Barbabosa (4) after scoring on a hit by Dante Schmid during the first inning of a U.S. elimination baseball game against Bowling Green, Ky. at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2015. |