ROUNDUP | Little League World Series

Warner Robbins, Ga. 8, Walpole, Mass. 1

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Straight-faced Payton Purvis was trying to answer a question when he heard Dalton Carriker giggling to his right. Purvis and Carricker had plenty to be happy about after they helped Warner Robins, Ga., beat Walpole, Mass. Georgia (2-1) clinched a berth in the U.S. semifinals and learned later that its opponent would be Chandler, Ariz., which defeated Coon Rapids, Minn. 9-2. Purvis, who drove in two runs with a single, said his team’s accomplishments haven’t sunk in yet. “It will really settle in when the whole tourney is over and you realize you are one of the four best teams in the country,” the 12-year-old outfielder said. Carriker was the star with a three-run home run in the second that landed far beyond the 225-foot sign down the right-field line at Volunteer Stadium, bouncing in front of a driveway. Carriker also struck out seven in four-plus innings, finishing a game that had been suspended in the top of the second inning Tuesday night because of rain. The youngster spent a restless Tuesday night in his dorm room after manager Mickey Lay told him before their 11:30 p.m. bedtime that he would take over in relief when the game resumed. “I couldn’t sleep,” Carricker said. “I was ready to throw.” Down 6-0, Walpole mounted a brief threat in the third after Patrick Hayes Jr. doubled, hustled to third on a fly out and scored on a double by Matthew Bender. Carriker got the next hitter, John Adams, to ground out to end the inning. Walpole (1-2) was eliminated. “Even though we lost, I think the 13 kids fulfilled their dream by making the Little League World Series,” Walpole manager Brian Oberacker said.

Curacao 6, Canada 2

Three pitchers combined on a four-hitter and Juremi Profar hit a two-run homer for Curacao (2-1). Kirvin Moesquit added two hits for Curacao, the Carribean region champs. Canada (1-2) was eliminated.

Chandler, Ariz. 9, Coon Rapids, Minn. 2

Kyle Pechloff and Connor Woods had clutch hits in a seven-run fifth inning to lead Chandler (2-1). Arizona sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the fifth, breaking open a 2-2 game. Seth Fretheim went 2-for-3 and drove in four runs. Tanner Lowe was 2-for-3 and drove in a run for Coon Rapids (1-2), which was eliminated. “You never know with our team,” Fretheim said. “You could strike out the side in the first inning, but we could come back in the next inning and every one of us will have a hit.”

Venezuela 11, Mexico 1

Omar Villalobos hit a three-run homer past the light tower in right field and Alberth Castillo dominated on the mound as Maracaibo, Venezuela routed Mexicali, Mexico. Villalobos’ first-inning blast sailed far past the right-center field wall 225 feet from the plate. It was the third homer of the tournament for the slugging catcher.

Associated Press