Sixth-inning home run propels Worcester to US championship

By Dan Lewerenz, Associated Press, 08/22/02

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Ryan Griffin hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to lift Worcester, Mass., to a 5-2 victory over Harlem, N.Y., Thursday night to lift the team into the U.S. final of the Little League World Series.

Gordie Lockbaum and Frank Flynn walked -- Flynn intentionally. After an out, Griffith sent a 1-2 pitch over the right field wall.

Worcester advances to face Louisville, Ky., in Saturday's U.S. championship.

The international championship will feature Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles against Sendai, Japan. Curacao beat Valencia, Venezuela, 3-0, on Thursday.

Harlem took a 2-0 lead in the third on RBI singles by Jorge Lopez and Fernando Frias.

Andrew Diaz singled to load the bases, but Spencer White's shot to deep left field was caught by Teddy Daly to end the inning.

Worcester tied it in the bottom of the inning. Micah Golshirazian, pinch running for Ben Landers, reached third on a Lockbaum single to right field. Flynn's sacrifice fly to left-center scored Golshirazian, and Lockbaum came home on a passed ball.

Harlem loaded the bases again in the fourth, with two walks and an infield error, but Jorge Lopez grounded to second base to end the inning. Harlem stranded runners at first and third in the fifth when Keith Landers struck out Julian McWilliams.

Alibay Barkley walked two to open the bottom of the second, and the runners advanced on a passed ball. But Barkley struck out two and Kurt Sabacinski lined out to second base to end the inning. Barkley had not given up a hit when he was pulled after two innings -- team representatives said he was not feeling well -- in favor of Jeremy Lopez. Barkley returned in the fourth inning in right field.

Harlem had two near misses in the second inning. Frias hit a line drive to center field, but Zach Ford made a diving catch for the out. Diaz hit a long foul ball to left.

The game started about 20 minutes late because of rain and was delayed briefly in the second inning when Harlem left fielder Ralph Rodriguez was stung by a bee. He returned to finish the inning.

Netherlands Antilles 3, Venezuela 0

Dennis Neuman threw a one-hitter as Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles beat Valencia, Venezuela, 3-0 Thursday in the international semifinals of the Little League World Series.

Curacao (3-1) advanced to Saturday's international championship against unbeaten Sendai, Japan. Japan beat Curacao 5-0 in pool play.

Worcester, Mass. was to meet Harlem, N.Y., on Thursday night in the second U.S. semifinal. The winner meets Louisville, Ky., in Saturday's U.S. championship game.

Neuman (2-0) struck out nine, including the side in the top of the sixth to end the game.

His defense was solid behind him, as well, with shortstop Hairo Polonius and first baseman Timothy Juliana turning a double play to end the second, and right fielder Rodien Genaro making a running catch to end the fourth.

Curacao scored two runs in the bottom of the first on bases-loaded walks.

Rudney Balentien doubled to left, then advanced and scored on two infield errors to give Curacao a 3-0 lead in the third.

Eduardo Mendez (1-1) struck out nine for Venezuela (2-2).