SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- The title round at the Little League World Series is flush with second chances.
Pearland, Texas, hit a pair of home runs in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday night for a 9-7 victory over Bonita, Calif., and a berth in the U.S. championship game.
Mexicali Baja California, Mexico, didn't need any drama to beat Barquisimeto, Venezuela, 11-0 earlier Thursday and advance to the International title game. Mexicali gets a rematch with Tokyo, which won their earlier matchup 3-1.
After Bonita pulled ahead 7-6 in the top of the second extra inning, starting pitcher Ben Gottfried hit a tying solo shot and Caleb Low ended it with a two-run home run.
Pearland will play undefeated Lewisberry, Pa. -- the closest thing to a home team -- for the U.S. championship Saturday. The winner will face the International bracket champion on Sunday for the World Series title.
Lewisberry beat Pearland 3-0 on Wednesday night to earn a berth in the title game.
The night game needed two extra innings to settle a swing-for-the-fences matchup. Zack Mack had a grand slam and an RBI single for Pearland, which hit four home runs in all.
The international game ended not with a home run, but with a swing-and-a-miss. Mexicali players ran from their positions to a spot between the mound and the plate, celebrating their berth in the International championship game.
One player was missing.
The last to arrive was Daniel Zaragoza, who had to run all the way from right field -- his position for the final out. It was the only time all day that No. 18 wasn't wasn't right in the middle of everything.
The left-hander who patterns himself after Fernando Valenzuela gave up only three hits, leading Mexicali to the victory. He also had a two-run double that got it started.
Peering over his tan-and-black glove to get signs from the catcher and then delivering the ball with a deliberate motion, Zaragoza looked a little bit like the famous Mexican pitcher -- also a lefty -- who sparked Fernandomania with the Dodgers in 1981. Asked for his favorite player, Zaragoza quickly answered: "Fernando."
Why? Because of his screwball.
Can he throw one, too? "No," Zaragoza said. "It's hard."
Tokyo's 3-1 victory over Mexicali early in the tournament puts a little extra on the line.
"Baseball gives you revenge," said Manager Jorge Joel Armenta, who has a tattoo of a rosary and No. 69 -- his number as a player -- on his right forearm. "We want to play Japan."
Barquisimeto came within one strike of reaching the International title game on Wednesday, before Japan tied it with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth and then won it with three runs in the eighth. Barquisimeto used up its pitching staff in that one.
"Last night's game hurt, but we came in focused on today's game," Manager Domingo A. Carrasquel said. "Mexico just played better."
Zaragoza's double in the second inning made it 2-0. Alberto Bustos had a two-run double in the third and a two-run home run in the fifth as Mexicali pulled away. Catcher Raul Leon added a three-run home run, his second in two games.
Zaragoza gave up three singles in 5 2/3 innings, leaving after reaching the limit with 89 pitches. He switched positions with right fielder Gerardo Lujano for the final out, and then made the long jog back toward the mound to join the celebration.
Mexicali thinks it's in a better place for the rematch with Japan. The offense has come around -- Leon, the cleanup hitter, has driven in eight runs in the last two games -- and the pitching and defense have remained a constant.
Sports on 08/28/2015