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| Saturday, August 17 Jeremy, Javier Lopez lead Harlem past N.C. Associated Press |
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SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Jeremy Lopez urged his cousin Javier to join his Little League team this summer. Good thing he did, because the two make a potent pair for Harlem, N.Y.
Jeremy Lopez hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and Javier hit a two-run homer as Harlem beat Southwest Forsyth of Clemmons, N.C., 9-3 on Saturday in the opening game for both teams at the Little League World Series.
Leading off in the third inning, Jeremy Lopez sent the first pitch over the wall in center field to give Harlem a 3-0 lead. In the fourth, he hit a pitch over the wall in left.
"The first home run, he just hung a fastball on the outside corner, so I just swung away,'' Jeremy said. "The second home run, he threw a curve ball and I just drove it.''
Jeremy was 3-for-3 with a walk. He singled to lead off the sixth and scored when cousin Javier hit a 240-foot home run to the hedge behind the center-field wall. Andrew Diaz added a two-run homer.
"This was beyond my expectations today in terms of how the bats were working,'' said Harlem manager Morris McWilliams. "The bats just came alive.''
In other games, Valley Sports American of Louisville, Ky., beat Aptos, Calif., 4-1; and Valencia, Venezuela, beat Central Guam 11-1; and Sendai Higashi of Japan beat Khovrino of Moscow, 7-0. Late games included Monterrey, Mexico vs. Curacao, Netherlands Antilles; and Worcester, Mass. vs. Webb City, Mo.
Harlem received by far the most attention of any team before the tournament, because of accusations that the team used players from outside its district. But Little League exonerated the team earlier this week, saying all the players complied with the rules.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg attended the game and said he was glad Little League's investigations found no wrongdoing with the Harlem team.
"Too often, as adults, we make it difficult and forget that they are children,'' Bloomberg said.
Javier Lopez also pitched for Harlem, striking out 10 to earn the win. Alex Robinson (0-1) took the loss for Southwest Forsyth.
"I told them I was proud of them,'' said North Carolina's manager, John Scott. "I was proud and happy with their comeback. They didn't give up when they got down.''
Harlem next plays Saturday night against Louisville. Southwest Forsyth plays Sunday against Aptos.
Venezuela 11, Guam 1
Venezuela had the game in hand when Montilla, leading off in the bottom of the fourth, belted one over the left field wall, giving his team a 6-1 lead. His double to left field in the fifth brought in two more runs. When Venezuela's lead reached 10 runs in the fifth inning, the game was called.
Kentucky 4, California 1
Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, Wesley Jenkins doubled for Kentucky's first hit of the game before Osborne belted a two-run homer over center field to put the Great Lakes champion in front 2-1.
Alvey then followed with a towering shot to deep center to extend the advantage to 3-1. Osborne, who also had a double, completed the scoring in the game by hitting a line drive home run to left center in the bottom of the fifth.
Alvey struck out 11 batters in picking up the win while losing hurler Kevin Eichhorn had 10 strikeouts.
California scored in the first when Drew McCauley walked and came home on Andrew Biancardi's double.
Japan 7, Russia 0
Katoh's first homer was a two-run shot in the first inning. He added a solo shot in the third.
Yoshinori Satoh pitched a no-hitter, with 10 strikeouts and two walks for Japan.
Netherlands Antilles 10, Mexico 1
Dany Walle hit an RBI double in the fifth inning as Netherlands Antilles sent 10 batters to the plate to break a 1-1 tie.
Neuman singled with the bases loaded and scored on the same play when Mexico made two throwing errors.
Steve Van Delden and Reinius Roosberg each hit a solo home run in the sixth. |
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Worcester vs. Webb City
