Hatch stars with glove, at plate, on mound, Wash. advances at LLWS with 9-5 win over Conn.

Triple-threat Hatch paces Wash. at LLWS

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Reliever Isaiah Hatch got Auburn, Wash., out of a fifth-inning jam, then homered in the sixth to help the Northwest champs to a 9-5 win Tuesday night over Fairfield, Conn., at the Little League World Series.

Hatch was Washington’s 5-foot-6 triple threat, involved in three double plays at shortstop before moving to the mound with his team ahead one with one out in the bottom of the fifth and runners on second and third. He got a strikeout and groundout to end the threat.

“I was kind of nervous, but I knew our defense had my back,” Hatch said, showing his braces while smiling.

Hatch padded the lead with a two-run homer to left in the sixth. He also recorded the final out after being moved back to shortstop from the mound, stepping on second for a forceout on a grounder.

Nick Nardone homered and went 3 for 4 for Connecticut, which was eliminated.

Washington’s Casey Manning added a homer and five RBIs, while Hatch finished 4 for 4 with four runs.

“Yeah, that was, by far, my best game,” Hatch said.