Long-hitters from Texas win in opener at LLWS

Associated Press

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.

Blake Toler and Jake Orlando hit homers over the outfield hedges in the first inning and Pearland, Texas powered past Plymouth, Minn., 10-8 on Friday at the Little League World Series.

The home runs set the tone for Texas’ offense, which scored eight runs over the first two innings and hit four homers in the game.

Wild Texas relief pitching allowed Minnesota to stay in the game. Colin Quinn’s grand slam drew the Midwest region champs within 10-8 in the sixth, but reliever Pryce Beshoory came on with two outs and got a strikeout to end the game

Connecticut 3, Washington 1

Jack Quinn’s two-run double broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth as Fairfield, Conn., defeated Auburn, Wash.

Connecticut’s first two runners in the fifth reached base on an error and walk before Quinn worked a 3-2 count. He lined a fastball to right-center field to put his team ahead for good.

Nick Nardone went 5 2/3 innings in Connecticut’s win, striking out 10 without walking a hitter. Eddie Magi came on for a one-pitch save after Nardone was removed because of the Little League pitch-count rules in the top of the sixth.

Puerto Rico 11, Ramstein Air Force Base 0

Manati, Puerto Rico hit five homers and two pitchers combined on a one-hitter in an 11-0 victory over Ramstein Air Force Base Germany.

Puerto Rico leadoff hitter Yomar Valentin had two homers, while Victor Valentin, Bryan Figueroa and Joshuan Sandoval also went deep in a game that ended in the fourth inning because of Little League’s 10-run rule.

The Valentin boys are cousins.

Japan 4, Mexico 2

The 12-year-old Marouka didn’t waste time when he got to the plate with runners on first and second and two outs, depositing the first pitch from reliever Ricardo Puga over the wall in left-center to finally put Japan on the scoreboard after trailing 1-0 much of the game.

One of the shortest players on the team, the 5-foot-1 Marouka couldn’t stop smiling as he rounded the bases, raising both arms with his teammates waiting to greet him.