Game 9: Puerto Rico 4, Australia 0
Talk about being impressed once again. Australia battled and competed the entire way, but three consecutive hits and a pair of errors gave Puerto Rico a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Robert Addarich and Jan Osorio singled, and Yamil Velasquez hit an RBI double. The Aussies were well-coached, fun to watch, and will be solid as a LLWS participant for years to come.
Game 10: Tennessee 10, Texas 2
For three innings, this one was a pitchers duel between the future superstar Ben Pickman and Jesus Ortiz. In fact, it was dueling no-hitters... then Pickman got a hold of one to start a rally. Trae McLemore ripped a two-run single, and 11-year old Robert Hassel hit a run-scoring single to give South Nashville a 3-0 lead. Tennessee continued to pile it on in the fifth inning, and then McLemore, who was intentionally walked in his previous at-bat, came up with bases loaded. He promptly deposited one way into left centerfield for a grand slam. That was all she wrote.
Game 11: Canada 4, Czech Republic 3
What?! This was an awesome game. Czech Republic is really good. Best European team in a long time and definitely the best defensively. Canada was really gutsy in hanging on late. Ken Nguyen pitched a great game and Angus Adams might be the scariest Canadian hitter I've ever seen. He's a player. The Czechs actually outhit Canada in this game, but the first waffle came in the third with the game's first error with bases loaded. That along with a wild pitch and a steal of home broke it open. The story of the game was absolutely the horrible umpiring. I feel bad for the guy behind the plate who had two calls overturned and missed countless others. It was a tough day for him.
Game 12: Iowa 6, Michigan 5
This was a very blah game and then became an incredible game. Iowa took a 1-0 lead in the third inning with an RBI single from Brady Roberts, and then the game blew up. Michigan, which was no-hit through seven innings the other day, was still hitless in the third when Brook Heinen made one of the best diving catches you will see in left field to steal a hit from Tyler Hill. It was the second hit taken away from Hill this week. California's Micah Pietila-Wiggs made a phenomenal play the other day too.
As usual, when you make a great defensive play, you tend to have a big hit. Well Heinen blasted a three-run home run in the ensuing inning to give Iowa a commanding 4-0 lead. Grant Garwood was continuing to fire away with his no-hitter.
Carter Troncin added a home run of his own in the fifth and the rout was on. But finally, in the fifth inning, Tommy Maxey hit a high fly ball that was misjudged in right field and dropped in for a double. The first Michigan hit of the LLWS. He was stranded, but the monkey was off The Mitten's back. Garwood reached his pitch limit with one out in the sixth and allowed just the misjudged double. Three walks later though, and Michigan was in business. Alex Augustine came in the game to try and get out of it, but a legit two-run single from Maxey followed by a three-run home run from Jack Vyletel cut the lead to just 6-5. Augustine picked up a strikeout to end the rally and the game.
LLWS Rankings After Day 3
1. Panama
2. Chinese Taipei
3. California
4. Japan
5. Connecticut
6. Mexico
7. Tennessee
8. Delaware
9. Washington
10. Puerto Rico
11. Texas
12. Canada
13. Iowa
14. Czech Republic
15. Michigan
16. Australia
Note: Rankings obviously hinge on pitching matchups... it is Little League, after all.
Random Thoughts: Elimination Day was way better than expected. Everyone played well once again. There just isn't a bad team in Williamsport this year. I was a little thrown off by Michigan's decision to pull Antonio Moceri from the game at 35 pitches. I thought that changed the game. The people on twitter that keep bringing up curveballs are driving me insane. You can't just go on what you think you know or conventional wisdom from 20 years ago. There's studies now that prove that curveballs aren't the problem. Overuse is. I'll provide links if you want them.
Home Run Meter: 18
Prediction Record: 3-1 (Overall 10-2) Note: Michigan's pitching changes blew my streak
Sunday's Predictions: Mexico over Panama 5-3, Connecticut over Washington 4-2, California over Delaware 4-1, and Chinese Taipei over Japan 6-4.
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