Only opener was played when weather conditions shut down the remaining first-day games in the 72nd annual Little League Baseball World Series at Williamsport, Pa., Thursday

By Arnie Leshin 

The first game of the 72nd annual Little League Baseball World Series was the only one played as the weather became windy and the rain began falling heavily Thursday at Williamsport, Pa.

 

But the opener did start and finish as Shendrion Martinus of the Caribbean Region’s Padao Little League champions from Curaco threw a no-hitter and shut down the Australia Region champion from Cronulla, 11-0, at Volunteer Stadium.

 

The rest of the scheduled four games were called and both Volunteer and Lamade Field were covered. This puts the tournament a day behind and it will be forced into coming up with make-up games.

 

After a scoreless first inning, the Caribbean pushed across seven runs in the second frame, with five different players driving in the runs. It added four more runs in the third, and the 10-run mercy rule halted the game after four innings.  

 

Meanwhile, Martinus did not allow a hit over the four innings, striking out one and walking one. Caribbean came up with 10 hits and played errorless ball.

 

Max Micotto was the starting pitcher for the Australian team, followed by Mikah Targett, and the two gave up five hits each. Micotto walked one and Targett two. The boys from Cronulla committed four errors.

 

The Caribbean team will take the field again at Volunteer Stadium on Sunday against the winner of game 3 between Asia-Pacific and Latin America, with 9 a.m. the scheduled start. Australia will play next on Saturday against the loser of game 3 at Volunteer Stadium at 1 o’clock.

 

All the regularly scheduled International games will be played at Volunteer, just across from Lamade Stadium, where the United States games will be played.