Walpole, Mass. 3, Hamilton, Ohio 2
 Walpole's Mike Rando made a leaping game-winning catch for the last out as Walpole beat Ohio, 3-2, in their opening game in the Little League World Series. (ESPN screenshot ) |
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. --Michael Rando made a game-saving catch at the center field wall with two outs in the bottom of the sixth as Walpole, Mass., beat Hamilton, Ohio, 3-2 Friday at the Little League World Series.
With the tying run on third base, Hamilton first baseman John Cornett hit a high fly ball to dead center field. Rando raced back, settled himself at the fence and timed his jump to save the win for Walpole (1-0).
Down 1-0, Walpole scored three runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead.
Matthew Bender singled with one out and Patrick Hayes pinch ran. After Hayes went to second on a wild pitch, John Adams was intentionally walked. John White then smacked a two-run double to give the New England region champions a 2-1 lead.
Samuel Falkson later added an RBI single to make it 3-1.
Hamilton (0-1) had pulled within 3-2 on wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth before Rando thwarted the rally with his highlight-reel catch.
Falkson struck out nine for Walpole, while Kyle Cotcamp also had nine strikeouts for Hamilton.
