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SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Dalton Carriker couldn't believe it. He had just hit a home run to win the Little League World Series.

"I almost fainted," the 12-year-old shortstop with braces said after his eighth-inning blast gave Warner Robins, Ga., a thrilling 3-2 win over Tokyo on Sunday to win youth baseball's biggest prize.

"I felt like I was flying, like Peter Pan. I didn't know what I was doing."

His dramatic homer over the right-field wall off Japan's Junsho Kiuchi gave the United States three straight Little League championships.

"USA! USA!" cried the Georgia-partisan crowd as dozens of fans waved American flags. Columbus, Ga., won the crown last year, and Ewa Beach, Hawaii, in 2005.

"I'm very honored to be associated with these young men," an emotional manager Mickey Lay said. His eyes welled with tears during a post-game news conference.

"There are only several times in your life, when people come into your life and touch you emotionally," he said, "and they get into your heart and never leave."

Jubilant Georgia players hugged Carriker as he reached the plate following the homer. Lay lost his hat after joining the team in celebration following a tense game marked by excellent pitching.

Georgia reliever Kendall Scott struck out 10 and allowed one hit over five-plus innings to quiet Japan's bats after Georgia fell behind 2-0 early.

Scott had watched Japan's impressive hitters throughout the tournament.

"Going out there, throwing the ball, I was scared to death on the first pitch," he said.

Scott left the game in the top of the eighth, with Zane Conlon getting the last out.

That set up Carriker's homer. He was hitting .769 in the World Series entering Sunday's game, but was 0-for-2 with a walk when he came up in the eighth.

He said a little prayer before settling himself in the batter's box.

"God, please give me the strength to get a hit and help my team out," Carriker said in recounting his prayer.

There was no doubt about his opposite-field shot off Kiuchi, which easily cleared the right-field fence 225 feet away from the plate.

Japan manager Youichi Kubo, who managed Japan to the 2001 Little League crown, tried to console his pitcher afterward.

"I told Junsho that when you are a reliever these things can happen," Kubo said through a translator. "I told him that he has a bright future and not to let this homer affect that."

After exchanging handshakes with players from Japan, Georgia players took hold of the championship banner, their proud parents snapping pictures from the stands.

Warner Robins kept the trophy in the state.

The previous two Georgia teams to advance to South Williamsport also won the title, including Columbus last year and East Marietta in 1983.

Also, the United States' three-year title streak is the longest since 1959-1966, an eight-year stretch of American victories.

"I'll remember every second of this," Carriker said. "This has been crazy."