Connor Ross cracked an RBI single for his team’s only hit of the game, and Canada did all its damage in the top of the seventh inning en route to a 3-2 win that eliminated Panama from the Little League Baseball World Series on Monday in South Williamsport, Pa.
Panama pitcher Obed Fuentes struck out 12 and walked two while holding Canada hitless through regulation, but his team could not plate a run through six innings, either. After automatic runner Jacob Massel took third on a wild pitch and Jean Ramos walked, the team from Vancouver scored runs on three straight plays: a fielder’s choice bunt by Connor Matsuda, the single by Ross and another fielder’s choice courtesy of Jason Mezzarobba.
The third run was critical, as Panama scored twice in the bottom of the seventh. Jeickot Sanchez hit an RBI double and later scored on a wild pitch, but Canada reliever Cruz Krpan got Dominick M. Saavedra Arauz to pop out to end the game.
Massel was Canada’s starter and struck out seven over five scoreless frames. Canada advanced to face South Korea in the third round of the International lower bracket on Tuesday.
Ohio 6, Texas 1
Zach Hilton hit a two-run single, Bob Frazier threw 4 2/3 clean innings and the Great Lakes Region representatives from Hamilton, Ohio, knocked out the Southwest Region team from Boerne, Texas.
Frazier struck out four while scattering three hits and three walks for Ohio. Josiah Infante had an RBI hit to open the scoring before Hilton’s big swing in the second inning. Ohio’s other runs came home on a pair of wild pitches and a fielder’s choice.
Carson Patrick hit an RBI single with Texas down to its last out, and teammate Lyle Fischer went 2-for-2. Ohio will face New Jersey in the third round of the U.S. lower bracket on Tuesday.
–Field Level Media
