Manning HR lifts Washington to 5-2 win at Little League WS, eliminating Minnesota

Manning blast lifts Washington at LLWS

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Casey Manning’s homer to dead center field capped a three-run fifth inning that propelled Auburn, Wash., past Plymouth, Minn., 5-2 Saturday night at the Little League World Series.

Manning turned on an 0-1 pitch from Minnesota starter Talor Blustin with two outs in the fifth after Dillon O’Grady’s single drove home Isaiah Hatch.

Manning’s father, Frank, played in the 1969 World Series for a team from Santa Clara, Calif. The younger Manning raced around the bases after his clutch hit, greeted at home by a throng of teammates who escorted him back to the dugout.

As showers fell on Lamade Stadium, the 13-year-old Manning raced around the bases as if trying to leg out a triple.

“Honestly, I thought it was pop fly,” he said. “But when I saw it was a home run, I got excited and I started running faster.”

His proud father, wearing a photo pin of his son on his green Washington jersey shirt, said adrenaline propelled Casey.

“He’s been a little down because he hasn’t hit one over the fence in a while,” the elder Manning said. “You could see his confidence come back. … It was amazing. Amazing.”

Minnesota was eliminated after its second loss, though coach Matt Deterding said it hasn’t deterred his players’ enthusiasm. They still plan to play a consolation round game Monday against an international team.

Ikaiku Nahaku struck out six for Washington and gave up Blustin’s RBI single in the first.