Montana, Mexico winners at Series

Associated Press

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.

Ben Askelson hit a high 1-0 fastball onto the hill beyond the left-field fence to send the boys from Billings, Mont., into the U.S. final of the Little League World Series with a 1-0, seven-inning victory over Huntington Beach, Calif., on Wednesday night.

Montana gets to rest up until the U.S. championship game Saturday, while California must face Clinton County, Pa., tonight.

Both teams had chances to prevent the game from going into extra innings. California couldn’t break through after loading the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth.

Mexico 2, Venezuela 1

Bruno Ruiz hit a ninth-inning homer to break a pitcher’s duel and lead Mexicali, Mexico, over Maracay, Venezuela.

The 13-year-old Ruiz deposited a 2-0 pitch over the 225-foot wall in center field, setting off a wild celebration among Mexico’s vocal fans. A smiling Ruiz cringed while getting bombarded by teammates with pats on his green helmet after crossing the plate.

“When I looked up at home plate and I saw all my teammates there, I knew what to expect,” the 13-year-old slugger said through interpreter Sergio Guzman. “Yes it hurt ... But it’s tradition. Everyone hits a home run on my team and they get hit on the helmet.”

They celebrated some more when reliever Jorge Jacobo closed out the victory with a groundout before friends and family serenaded players with songs in Spanish.

Mexico advances to Saturday’s international bracket final, while Venezuela next plays Japan today.

Both squads benefited from strong pitching and excellent defense. Venezuela starter Keny Marquez struck out seven over six innings.

Marquez and three Venezuela relievers combined for 11 strikeouts.