Little League WS is fun and games even in loss; NY Mexico, Curacao, Japan move on

NY, Mexico, Curacao, Japan move on at LLWS

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Playing video games, going swimming and catching up with old friends can be just as much fun as winning for the youngsters at the Little League World Series.

While the players from Reynosa, Mexico smiled and danced around the field after clinching a berth in the next round with a 13-0 win Monday over Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, their defeated foes walked slowly off the field and lamented a loss.

But only briefly.

“They’re having fun. Look around, this is awesome,” Germany manager Ed Prince said. “Everything else, except for this game, has been a ball.”

Willemstad, Curacao, was in a much better mood after a 5-3 win over Dhahran, Saudi Arabia sent them to the international semifinals. Staten Island, N.Y., celebrated Monday night after moving on following an 8-3 victory over Urbandale, Iowa.

Chiba City, Japan, beat Maracaibo, Venezuela, 5-4, then also qualified for the next round by virtue of Curacao’s victory. Undefeated Warner Robins, Ga., which is already in the U.S. semis, edged Mercer Island, Wash., 3-2, in the other early game Monday.

Though they cannot move on, Germany will play one more first-round game Tuesday, and Prince said his team will stay in South Williamsport for the rest of the week to watch the rest of the tournament.

That will give Jacob Van Parys, Germany’s 13-year-old catcher, a chance to cheer on his former teammates from San Antonio, Texas, who have already clinched a berth in the U.S. semis. Van Parys played on the McAllister Park American league from San Antonio until about two months ago, when his military family was transferred overseas.

It’s a remarkable coincidence that Little League officials say has likely never happened before in the recent history of the tournament.

“It’s a cool experience, that you might be able to play some of your really good friends in the Little League World Series,” said the shy Van Parys before the tourney started. “It was surprising to see them all, just all coming out off the bus.”

Mexico is sticking around, too. Their rooting section celebrated early in the rout of Germany after Mexico took a 6-0 lead after two innings.

Raul Rojas hit three doubles and scored three runs and Oscar Noguera allowed just one hit as undefeated Mexico was aided by seven Germany errors.

Mexico’s fans swayed back and forth in the stands in their bright red-and-green shirts, and later sang “Ay, yay yay yay.”

“We really feel very happy to have people from Reynosa come from so far to get to this place and cheer for us,” said the 12-year-old Noguera with a slight smile through interpreter Sergio Guzman. “It feels very special and I’m very happy.”

Two errors allowed Toshinori Wakai to race home from first with the winning run in a game that eliminated Venezuela.

Wakai reached after getting hit by a pitch. Naoto Ogura then hit a hard shot towards second base with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. The ball was misplayed and as Wakai went to third, the throw from center fielder Oberto Munoz glanced off Wakai’s helmet and bounced into foul territory, allowing him to score.

The 13-year-old Wakai pumped his arm as he crossed the plate as his teammates jumped up and down in the dugout in celebration.

Georgia needed a passed ball and wild pitch to score the tying and go-ahead runs in the top of the sixth to stay undefeated.

With reliever Brandon Lawler on the mound and Georgia trailing 2-1, a passed ball scored Kyle King from third before a wild pitch scored Jake Farrell with the winning run.

Lawler did double and score in the second inning. Winless Washington had already been eliminated.

Junters Dossett broke a 3-3 tie with a two-run homer in the fifth, and Jardel Martina struck out 11 over five innings as Curacao stayed unbeaten. Curacao will play either Mexico or Taiwan on Thursday in the semis.

Saudi Arabia had taken a 3-2 lead in the fourth after two runs scored on an error before Deji Ogunsola had an RBI bunt.

Buoyed by a loud fan club that made the three-plus hour trip to central Pennsylvania, the South Shore National league from Staten Island advanced to the U.S. semifinals Wednesday night against either Texas or California.

“I don’t think they’re able to absorb it quite yet,” manager Michael Michael Zaccariello said. “I think it will sink in once they get back (to New York). Right now, they’re just playing games.”

Michael Rapaglia struck out seven over four-plus innings and Vincent Quinn slugged a three-run homer to straightaway center in a four-run sixth.

“SSLL. The Beast from the East” read a sign in the New York cheering section after Angelo Navetta’s homer made it 5-0 late.

Iowa scored its three runs in the bottom of the sixth, including a two-run single by Spencer Sturges, before reliever James Morisano held on for the final two outs.