SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- The most popular pitcher at the Little League World Series on Tuesday was the one who tarnished the tournament's reputation a year ago.

	Danny Almonte returned to the LLWS, accompanied by Rolando Paulino, whose namesake team Almonte pitched for last year.

Danny Almonte, whose team's third-place finish in last year's series was erased after it was shown he was too old, was in the stands Tuesday, signing autographs and cheering for the Harlem team representing New York and the Mid-Atlantic Region in its 5-2 victory over Aptos, Calif. Harlem advanced to the U.S. semifinals with the win.

The 15-year-old was accompanied by Rolando Paulino, whose namesake team from the Bronx was the one Almonte pitched for last year.

"It's great to be here,'' Almonte said in Spanish.

Almonte was a sensation last year, pitching a perfect game -- the first at the Little League World Series in 44 years -- while rumors swirled about his age and eligibility for the tournament for kids 12 and under.

The rumors were proved to be true, but only after Almonte had led his team to the third-place finish. When Little League, working with officials in the Dominican Republic, determined that Almonte was 14 years old during the tournament, his team's wins were erased, as were Almonte's records and his perfect game.

Stephen D. Keener, president and chief executive officer of Little League Baseball Inc., said the organization held no animosity toward Almonte. Although Almonte's records were stripped last year, he was not prohibited from playing in the future in Little League's divisions for older boys.

"We've never held Danny accountable for this incident,'' said Keener, who blamed Paulino and Almonte's father, Filipe Almonte.

To some, Almonte clearly is still a celebrity. Before the game, he was signing autographs for kids just like he did last year.

But not all of the fans were as forgiving. One man seated behind Almonte admonished reporters, saying: "That's old news. Why don't you cover the new news?''

Unlike Almonte, Paulino has been banned for life from any affiliation with Little League Baseball. Little League officials said last year that Paulino had been sanctioned before in the Dominican Republic for using ineligible players.

Little League spokesman Lance Van Auken said he wished Paulino had not come, but that there was little the organization could or would do, given its open policy.

"Any citizen can come to any Little League game,'' Van Auken said. "I think life would be easier for everyone if he hadn't come to the game, but we're not going to stop him.''