| | Associated Press
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- The team from Maracaibo, Venezuela, is
going home with a big haul: the Little League World Series title,
following Saturday's 3-2 victory over Bellaire, Texas, and an entire
shipment of new bats.
Only in America.
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LATIN AMERICA 3
U.S. SOUTH 2
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R |
H |
E |
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Venezuela
Texas |
3
2 |
2
4 |
1
2 |
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Ruben Mavarez pitched a four-hitter, struck out six for the win. |
Maracaibo, which arrived in central Pennsylvania with only one
bat, got new ones through donations from equipment companies, and
used those acquisitions to full effect.
"He hasn't used that bat anymore," said Luis Sanchez,
interpreting for Maracaibo manager Eduvino Quevedo. "He soon found
out that the other bats were more explosive."
It wasn't Maracaibo's bats that clinched them the title, as two
wild pitches and an error led to their three runs.
Ruben Mavarez pitched a four-hitter, struck out six and also
doubled and scored as Venezuela claimed its second World Series
championship in six years and fifth overall for Latin America.
The game ended in dramatic fashion as Bellaire missed a chance
to tie it in the bottom of the sixth when Alex Atherton singled and
Nick Wills hit a two-out single, advancing Atherton to third.
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Texas catcher Terrence McConn, left, tags out Venezuela's Adrian Chourio at home plate during the sixth inning of the championship game. |
With the crowd of 42,000 on its feet, Mavarez ended the game -- and threw up his glove in the air -- by striking out Hunter Johnson.
With Mavarez kneeling on the mound, the team came charging and
piled up on top of him. Left fielder Marcel Prado came out carrying
a Venezuelan flag, while the Bellaire players sat and watched in
the dugout.
"It's another big step in his baseball life," Mavarez said,
through Sanchez. "A very good step. Not many persons have had an
opportunity to be in a World Series."
Adrian Chourio singled and scored for Maracaibo, while Mavarez
picked up his second win of the week.
Bellaire failed to become the first Texas team to win the Series
in 34 years.
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Venezuela's Ruben Mavarez pitched a four-hitter and struck out six. |
"We got the runner to third and a passed ball or anything would
have tied it up," Bellaire manager Terry McConn said. "Maybe we
would've scored another run that inning or gone into extra innings.
But we just didn't have it. ... Yeah, we would have liked to have
won it, been the Little League World Series champions.
"Again, we're the U.S. champs."
Atherton, who led the team with two hits, pitched a two-hitter
and struck out 12, but was undone by his team's miscues.
"He threw good enough to win," McConn said. "I mean, two
hits, we made a couple of errors and a couple of passed balls and
they scored a couple of runs off of them. If we had stopped that we
might have won 2-0."
Maracaibo never trailed after going up 2-0 in the first inning
when Atherton loaded the bases and then threw two consecutive wild
pitches.
After Atherton doubled home Michael Johnson in the first,
Maracaibo went up 3-1 in the third when right fielder Drew Zizinia
misplayed Manuel Castellano's fly ball, allowing Mavarez to score
from second.
It's been quite a ride for Maracaibo, which is expecting a trip
to the capitol and a meeting with the president. Not bad for a team
whose flight from Venezuela had to turn back because of mechanical
problems, and lost its Series opener 10-0 to Tokyo.
His throat dry, Quevedo said he told everyone from the beginning
his team had what it took to win.
"For him, he's very happy," Quevedo said.
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Members of both the Maracaibo, Venezuela, and Bellaire, Texas, teams run around the field together after the championship game. |
Sierra Maestra-Maracaibo is the ninth Venezuelan team to reach
the Series, and second to claim the title after
Coquivacoa-Maracaibo won it all in 1994.
The win was the 28th by international representatives, vs. 26
won by U.S. teams.
Toms River, N.J., was the last U.S. team to win, beating Kashima,
Japan, in 1998. Osaka won last year.
Two Texas teams have won the championship, the last being
Westbury American-Houston in 1966.
Earlier Saturday, actor Kevin Costner, NBA players' union
executive director Billy Hunter and groundbreaking transplant
surgeon Dr. Robert Stratta -- all former Little Leaguers -- were
enshrined in the Little League Hall of Excellence.
Prior to the game, Hall of Famer George Brett was awarded the
Bill Shea Distinguished Little League Graduate Award, which
recognizes former Little Leaguers who have attained respected
public status.
Friday night, Republican Presidential candidate and Texas
Governor George W. Bush sent the Bellaire team a letter
congratulating them on reaching the final.
"Determination and teamwork represent the spirit of Texas. I
commend you for your hard work and dedication," Bush wrote. "You
make the Bellaire community and the Lone Star State proud." | |
ALSO SEE
Venezuela really earned Williamsport
Venezuela wins International championship
Texas wins US championship
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