Connecticut, Mexico avoid LLWS ouster

Associated Press

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa.

Kevin Oricoli finally has bragging rights over his big brother.

Not many 12-year-old boys can say they hit a two-run single at the Little League World Series.

Oricoli’s two-out clutch hit keyed a three-run third inning, and Matt Kubel silenced Nebraska’s bats to help Fairfield, Conn., avoid elimination Saturday at the Little League World Series with a 12-0 victory.

Oricoli is savoring the moment — and not just because his team is one step closer to a Little League title.

His 14-year-old brother, Jack, played on the Fairfield American All-Star team last year that lost in the regional semifinals. Egged on by his manager, Bill Meury, Oricoli didn’t waste an opportunity to talk smack following Saturday’s win after a reporter asked who was getting the last laugh in the Oricoli family.

“Right now, right now, everyone except my brother. As you know, I made it farther than him,” Oricoli said, smiling, as Meury laughed. “Now, he’s jealous of me and now it’s kind of awkward around him now because he’s jealous.”

CURACAO 14, GERMANY 2

Christopher Koeiman had the big blow in an eight-run first inning for the winners from Willemstad, Curacao with a three-run homer to center. Rallison Bentura added a two-run single, and Curacao also took advantage of four errors in the inning by the Europe region champions, comprised of children whose parents serve or work at the U.S. military installation in Germany.

Justin Wilson and Kyle Glenn each had RBI singles for Germany in the third.

MEXICO 12, UGANDA 0

Joel Turrubiates homered and drove in three runs for Mexico, which avoided elimination. The sluggers have hit eight homers in two games at the World Series.

NEW JERSEY 10, OREGON 4

A 13-year-old shortstop, Matti did his best impersonation of Yankees leadoff hitter Derek Jeter for the New Jersey team from the New York suburb of Parsippany.

And New Jersey’s vocal fans chanted the names of each of their favorite sons as they strode to the plate as if they were Yankee Stadium “Bleacher Creatures.”

Matti, hit both his shots to center, including a blast to lead off the game that caromed off the top of the brick wall beyond the fence 225 feet away.

Trailing 5-0 in the second, the Gresham, Ore., squad rallied to within 5-4 on Tyler Linch’s two-run single in the third.

But Linch was later tagged out at home by catcher Anthony Scannelli after trying to score the potential tying run on a grounder to second.