Jacob Jones hits two homers and Ohio outslugs New Jersey in 16-6 LLWS win

Ohio outslugs New Jersey in 16-6 LLWS win

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Jacob Jones is Hamilton, Ohio’s, ninth hitter. He batted in the first inning — and hit a two-run homer.

That’s just the way it went for Toms River, N.J. at the Little League World Series. The mashers from the Midwest hit three homers and broke out for eight runs in the first inning to outslug Toms River, N.J., 16-6 Saturday.

Jones had slumped badly in regional play.

“I haven’t been doing it all season,” Jones said. “I have potential, but I just don’t use it.”

Manager Paul Deceglie isn’t worried about his team’s confidence, though. He wants them to keep having fun.

“That’s what it’s all about. Baseball is just a little part of it, it’s just a game,” he said.

In other early games, Vancover, British Columbia, escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the sixth to beat Chitre, Panama, 4-2; and Columbus, Ga., defeated Waipahu, Hawaii, 6-2.

The evening games included Taiwan and Saudi Arabia; and Minnesota against Washington, with the loser eliminated from contention.

It was quite a breakout performance for Jones.

“He’s been hitting well since we got up here,” manager Ken Coomer said. “His confidence is getting better.”

The rest of the Ohio boys can swing the bat, too, and the team banged out 15 hits against New Jersey, seven for extra bases.

Brooks Robinson hit an opposite-field, two-run double to left in the first to set up, Jones’ two-run shot. He added a solo shot to left in the seventh.

New Jersey, known for rallying in the regional tournament from big deficits, scored six runs in the first two innings, highlighted by Kevin Blum’s two-run triple to make it 9-6 in the second. But Ohio pitching shut down New Jersey from there.

Canada has an odd tradition to keep the team loose. Infielder William Quito, who drove in two runs, stuck a nylon sock wrapped in a red, plastic hazardous material bag in the face of manager Pat Reynold at the post-game news conference. The sock hadn’t been washed in six weeks.

If players don’t smile while at the plate, they get the sock. If all the kids smile during their at-bats, the manager or the coach has to take the sock.

They were smiling at the end when 13-year-old Lucas Soper capped a complete game by getting William Savedra to ground out with the bases loaded. It was Soper’s last hitter before having to be lifted because of pitch count rules.

It turns out it didn’t matter.

“I was ready for the change,” Soper said. “I was excited I had one more batter. I (knew) I had to dig down deep and get that last out.”

Knox Carter heard a lot about what the World Series would be like from his cousin, Kyle, who pitched for the Columbus team that won the title in 2006.

Knox is making his own highlight reel after hitting a two run homer to help Georgia beat Hawaii, which won a Little League title in 2008.

“It’s everything they said it was,” the 13-year-old outfielder said with a smile. “It’s like baseball heaven.”

Hawaii’s Ty DeSa smacked a two-run homer in the top of the first off Jacob Pate before the Georgia starter settled down and combined with Troy Gilliland on a two-hitter.

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