SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Steven Cardone smiled as he jogged off the field after San Antonio, Texas escaped with another victory at the Little League World Series.
He had a big reason for the look of relief on his face. Actually, three big reasons.
Cardone and San Antonio's makeshift defense erased three bases-loaded threats with double plays and John Shull had two RBI in a 4-1 victory Wednesday night over Staten Island, N.Y.
"That's pretty standard," Shull's father, Texas Manager Mike Shull, joked about the timely defense.
Texas moves on to play Georgia or California in Saturday's U.S. final while New York was eliminated.
Earlier Wednesday, Mexico shut out Japan 6-0 to advance to the international final against Taiwan or Curacao.
Texas' victory wasn't nearly as easy.
San Antonio had to alter its defense with regular shortstop Drew Brooks dealing with an elbow problem and Travis Daves, who pitches, catches and plays infield, sidelined for the game against New York with a recurring stomach bug.
Brooks is playing second in the World Series and regular second baseman Nicholas Smisek has moved over to shortstop, with both 12-yearolds dismissing the switch as just "weird." John Shull, typically a third baseman, moved to catcher as part of the shuffling.
All of the moving around didn't seem to affect San Antonio's defense Wednesday night. New York loaded the bases in the first, third and fifth, but onlyscored one run thanks to sharply hit bouncers right at fielders that led to double plays.
Anthony Scotti, hobbling with a bad hamstring, grounded into two of them, including a 4-6-3 double play to end the fifth with New York down three.
"I knew we'd get a ground ball," Smisek said. "I just didn't know who he would hit it to."
MEXICO 6, JAPAN 0
Raul Rojas hit a two-run home run and picked up five outs on the mound to finish a one-hitter, helping Reynosa to a victory over Chiba City, Japan.
Rojas isn't too bad at the plate, either.
He got Mexico on the board with his drive in a five-run first, impressing the crowd along the way. The 12-year-old slugger slowed as he approached home, then stomped on the plate as giddy teammates patted him on the helmet.
"I was just very excited to hit a home run in front of my family at the Little League World Series," Rojas said.
World Series glance WEDNESDAY'S GAMES At Lamade Stadium International Reynosa, Mexico 6, Chiba City, Japan 0 United States San Antonio 4, Staten Island, N.Y. 1 TODAY'S GAMES All times Central International Willemstad, Curacao vs. Taoyuan, Taiwan, 3 p.m.
United States Warner Robins, Ga. vs. Chula Vista, Calif., 7 p.m.
Sports, Pages 21 on 08/27/2009