Arizona rolls 16-6 behind Bellinger

The son of former Yankee Clay Bellinger had four hits against Salisbury, Md.

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Clay Bellinger played in the World Series with the New York Yankees, but the utility man was never really known for his bat.

His son, though, can sure pound the ball.

Twelve-year-old Cody Bellinger went 4-for-5, including an impressive opposite-field two-run homer to left, and Chandler, Ariz. pounded out five home runs in a 16-6 win Saturday over Salisbury, Md., at the Little League World Series.

Clay Bellinger even got to stand on the same field as his sweet-swinging son — he’s the first-base coach for Chandler.

“He went to the World Series, so I thought it would be really cool if I could go to the Little League World Series,” said Cody, his voice raspy from all the yelling he’s been doing on the field.

High scoring day

The early games Saturday in South Williamsport were all high-scoring affairs: Mexico defeated the Netherlands 11-1; and Canada beat Saudi Arabia 13-5.

But no team put on a display like Chandler (1-0), which had 17 hits, including 10 for extra bases.

The first three batters in Chandler’s lineup resemble a Little League Murderer’s Row. Seth Fretheim led off the game with a homer and followed with another shot in the sixth. No. 3 hitter Luke Parrish was 4-for-5, including a homer and a double.

Cody Bellinger was sandwiched in between them in the lineup. Listed at 5-foot-1 and 87 pounds, the second baseman hardly looks imposing at the plate.

But appearances can be deceiving. Cody said his father took him to the batting cage regularly before tournament season.

Clay Bellinger hit .193 over four seasons in his major league career. He played in two World Series for New York, winning in 2000 against the Mets and losing the following season against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Mexicali, Mexico 11, Apeldoorn,
Netherlands 1 (4 innings)

Isaac Camano drove in four runs and Mexico (1-0) used a six-run fourth inning to beat the Netherlands (0-1). The game ended after four innings — two innings early — because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Apeldoorn catcher Roy Sterling left the game in the first after hyperventilating because he didn’t like the home plate umpire’s strike zone. Apeldoorn pitchers walked five batters in Mexico’s five-run first inning.

“He got sick and couldn’t breathe. He was complaining about the balls,” Netherlands manager Casper Coffie said. “I tried to tell him that he couldn’t change umpires’ call and that it didn’t matter, but it didn’t help.”

Coffie said Sterling had to see a Little League doctor, but was going to be fine.

White Rock, British Columbia 13,
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 5

Jackson Temple hit a three-run homer and British Columbia (1-0), broke a tie with an eight-run fifth inning to defeat Saudi Arabia (0-1).

Temple homered to center, just in front a small brick wall beyond the fences. He took a short hop and a skip before jumping on home plate as teammates patted him on the helmet.