SantaFeToday.com Santa Fe’s Hometown News
By Arnie Leshin
For those between the ages of 10-12 playing Little League baseball, it is a life-changing sports experience.
And now for the 75th time, the prestigious event is playing Williamsport, Pa. Of the 20 teams — 10 from the United States and 10 from the International field.
Eight are left, and after undefeated Needville, the Texas East winner, won its third straight Wednesday via a wild 1-0 win over Northeast winner Seattle, Washington, and landed in Saturday’s United States championship.
Currently, Washington, El Segundo, California or Southwest Nolensville, Tennessee could be its opponent. California, the West champion, got past Tennessee, 5-3, Wednesdaybut Needville had the most long and winding road to win its game.
It went nine innings, three more than the regulation LL game rules. It came 1-0 after Needville, close by to Houston, left nine runners aboard for the last three frames, a total 18 in all, had first and third with one out when a fly ball to right field sent the runner home from third.
Then in the bottom half its relief pitcher allowed two on with one out, but got a ground out to first and a final strikeout. It was a true marathon, a strike-filled one, Seattle fanned 15, Texas 16, and there were several excellent defensive plays.
Most of them in fact came at important times, one in the seventh with the bases loaded and two out was a stellar grab in deep centerfield that might have cleared the bases.
After the sixth, both team began an inning from second base. In the eighth, Seattle left two on, in the ninth also left a pair stranded.
The final out came on a sharp bouncer to shortstop and the fielder made a splendid play for the close out at first. Then Needville, in here for the first time, rushed the field to celebrate.
In the International field, surprising Mexico knocked out disappointing Japan, 2-0, for an unusual early exit for the five-time champions.
But the team to beat is Chinese Taipei of Tao Yuan, now 3-0 after rolling over a good Curacao team. The seven-time champions had already no-hit Japan, and put this one away with a 7-run first inning.
