Sunday, August 18, 2002
Harlem wins Little League WS opener
By DAN LEWERENZ
Associated Press Writer
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Jeremy Lopez urged his cousin Javier to join his Little League team this summer. Good thing he did, because the two make a potent pair for Harlem.
Jeremy Lopez hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and Javier hit a two-run homer as the team from New York City beat Southwest Forsyth of Clemmons, N.C., 9-3 Saturday in the opening game for both teams at the Little League World Series.
Leading off in the third inning, Jeremy Lopez sent the first pitch over the wall in center field to give Harlem a 3-0 lead. In the fourth, he hit a pitch over the wall in left.
“The first home run, he just hung a fastball on the outside corner, so I just swung away,” Jeremy said. “The second home run, he threw a curve ball and I just drove it.”
Jeremy was 3-for-3 with a walk. He singled to lead off the sixth and scored when cousin Javier hit a 240-foot home run to the hedge behind the center-field wall. Andrew Diaz added a two-run homer.
“This was beyond my expectations today in terms of how the bats were working,” said Harlem manager Morris McWilliams. “The bats just came alive.”
In other games, Valley Sports American of Louisville, Ky., beat Aptos, Calif., 4-1; Valencia, Venezuela, beat Central Guam 11-1; Sendai Higashi of Japan beat Khovrino of Moscow, 7-0; Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, beat Monterrey, Mexico, 10-1; and Worcester, Mass., beat Webb City, Mo., 2-1.
Harlem received by far the most attention of any team before the tournament, because of accusations that the team used players from outside its district. But Little League exonerated the team earlier this week, saying all the players complied with the rules.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg attended the game and said he was glad Little League's investigations found no wrongdoing with the Harlem team.
“Too often, as adults, we make it difficult and forget that they are children,” Bloomberg said.
Javier Lopez also pitched for Harlem, striking out 10 to earn the win. Alex Robinson (0-1) took the loss for Southwest Forsyth.
“I told them I was proud of them,” said North Carolina's manager, John Scott. “I was proud and happy with their comeback. They didn't give up when they got down.”
Harlem next plays Saturday night against Louisville. Southwest Forsyth plays Sunday against Aptos.
Venezuela 11, Guam 1
Gerson Montilla hit a solo home run and a two-run double to lead Venezuela to the five-inning victory.
Venezuela had the game in hand when Montilla, leading off in the bottom of the fourth, belted one over the left field wall, giving his team a 6-1 lead. His double to left field in the fifth brought in two more runs. When Venezuela's lead reached 10 runs in the fifth inning, the game was called.
Kentucky 4, California 1
Zachary Osborne hit two home runs and Aaron Alvey added a third for Kentucky. Osborne's two-run shot in the third inning brought home Wesley Jenkins and gave Kentucky a 2-1 lead. His second homer came in the fifth inning.
California scored in the first when Drew McCauley walked and came home on Andrew Biancardi's double.
Japan 7, Russia 0
Yoosuke Katoh hit two home runs and Tatsuhiko Numakura hit one for Japan.
Katoh's first homer was a two-run shot in the first inning. He added a solo shot in the third.
Yoshinori Satoh pitched a no-hitter, with 10 strikeouts and two walks for Japan.
Netherlands Antilles 10, Mexico 1
Dennis Neuman pitched a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts, and had an RBI single in a six-run fifth inning for Curacao, Netherlands Antilles.
Dany Walle hit an RBI double in the fifth inning as Netherlands Antilles sent 10 batters to the plate to break a 1-1 tie.
Neuman singled with the bases loaded and scored on the same play when Mexico made two throwing errors.
Steve Van Delden and Reinius Roosberg each hit a solo home run in the sixth.
Massachusetts 2, Missouri 1
Keith Landers struck out 10 batters and Ben Landers drove in the go-ahead run in the fourth inning to lead Worcester, Mass.
Missouri took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Dakotah Miller and Chance Sossamon each singled before Darren Angus hit an RBI double. Gordie Lockbaum's run-scoring double in the botom half tied it.
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Harlem wins Little League WS opener
