LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES

LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES

Saturday’s games

Georgia 5, Texas 2

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — David Umphreville, Jr. had a two-run single and Zane Conlon snared a line drive to end a rally as Warner Robins, Ga., advanced to the Little League World Series final. With runners on second and third and Georgia leading 4-2, Conlon moved quickly to his left to catch a hard liner off the bat of Lubbock’s Bryndan Arredondo to end the fifth inning. Conlon stumbled briefly to his knees before being mobbed by delighted teammates on his way to the dugout. The catch saved a potential game-tying hit by Texas. After Georgia’s Dalton Carriker struck out Jay Pendergrass to end the game, Carriker skipped home and jumped into the arms of catcher Kendall Scott so hard they fell over at home plate. Other delighted teammates soon joined them on the ground. A Georgia win would give U.S. teams three straight World Series titles. The past two Georgia teams to advance to South Williamsport have come away with the World Series trophy, including Columbus last year and East Marietta in 1983. As giddy Warner Robins players posed with the “U.S. champions” banner, their fans chanted, “USA! USA!” Carriker homered and Umphreyville, Jr. added a two-run single in a three-run third inning that gave Warner Robins a 4-0 lead. Lubbock’s Garret Williams homered in the bottom of the third as Texas closed to 4-2. Umphreyville, Jr. scored on a bases-loaded walk to give Warner Robins a 5-2 lead. Lubbock put runners on second and third with two outs before Carriker got Pendergrass to strike out swinging, starting the post-game Georgia celebration.

Japan 7, Curacao 4

Ryo Kanekubo tied the game with a solo homer in the fifth inning and delivered a game-ending grand slam in the bottom of the sixth as Japan rallied and advanced to the championship game. Kanekubo tied the game at 3 in the top of the fifth, sending Tivon Faneyte’s first pitch over the right-field fence. Curacao took a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth when Ulrick Carmelia doubled home a run, but Japan threw a runner out at the plate to end the inning. Japan rallied in the bottom of the inning when Hiroki Takewaki, Kanta Hiraide and Masaya Oginio singled to load the bases. Kanekubo worked the count to 2-2 before launching the game-winner to center field. Curacao (3-2) took a 3-0 lead with runs in each of the first three innings. Juremi Profar had an RBI single in the first inning. Carmelia had an RBI double in the second, and Profar had an RBI sacrifice bunt in the third. Japan (4-0) cut the lead to 3-2 with two runs in the bottom of the third. Kanekubo doubled and scored on Ryo Ogawa’s single. Jono Kiuchi followed with an RBI double.

Associated Press