ESPN Network: ESPN | NBA.com | NHL.com | ABC | Radio | EXPN | Insider | Shop | Fantasy
Little League World Series

SEARCH ESPN

ESPNWeb
SPORT SECTIONS
MLB
   Scores | GameCast
NFL
   Scores
Col. Football
   Scores
NBA
   Scores
Golf
   Scores
Tennis
   Scores
Motorsports
Soccer
Boxing
NHL
M Col. BB
W Col. BB
WNBA
Horse Racing
Recruiting
Sports Business
College Sports
Olympic Sports
Action Sports
ESPNdeportes
ProRodeo
More Sports
Sunday, August 17
Updated: August 21, 3:47 AM ET
 
Broad strikes out nine in semifinal victory

Associated Press

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Michael Broad's fastball was scaring his catcher. The other team's hitters barely had a chance.

Broad threw a one-hitter and Richie DeJesus was 3-for-3 and drove in two runs as Boynton Beach, Fla., beat Chandler, Ariz., 4-1 Wednesday night in the first U.S. semifinal at the Little League World Series.

Boynton Beach (3-1) advances to Saturday night's U.S. title game against the winner of Thursday night's semifinal between Saugus, Mass., and Richmond, Texas.

Going into the sixth inning, catcher Devon Travis couldn't persuade Broad to lay off the heat.

"In the last inning he came up to me and said, 'I'm going to bring it,''' Travis said. "I said, 'Why not try for your corners?' But he said, 'No, I'm going to bring it.'''

In an international semifinal, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles beat Altagracia, Venezuela, 10-0 Wednesday. This is the third consecutive year a Curacao team has reached the international championship game and it will play the winner of Thursday's game between Tokyo and Mexico City on Saturday.

The world championship game is Sunday.

DeJesus -- who was 0-for-3 in his last game -- drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI double in the fourth, then scored on R.J. Neal's RBI single. An RBI single by DeJesus in the fifth made it 4-1.

DeJesus said he kept getting "balls right down the middle. They were really good pitches. I liked them.''

Broad (2-0) struck out nine and didn't walk a batter. Justin Rosales (1-1) took the loss.

"He just threw gas, and we couldn't catch up to him,'' Chandler manager Eddie Malone said. "We couldn't make any adjustments to the pitch.''

Tim Fowler of Chandler (3-1) had an RBI double in the first that tied the game 1-1.

Travis hit a leadoff triple for Boynton Beach in the first and scored on Jordan Irene's sacrifice fly.

Netherlands Antilles 10, Venezuela 0

Tharick Martines struck out 14 in a one-hitter, but he says he can do better.

"My fastball was my best pitch today, but this was not the best I've pitched,'' Martines said.

Martines also hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning to make it 7-0.

"We talked after yesterday's game about who was hitting and who was not hitting,'' said Curacao coach Michelangelo Celestina. "We came here today more focused at the plate.''

Martines (1-1) allowed an infield single in the fifth. Edixon Martinez (0-1) took the loss.

"His fastball and curve were breaking really well, and that's why we couldn't hit him,'' Venezuela manager Alfonso Avendano said of Martines. "I saw Martines in the regional tournament and here, and I felt this was the best he pitched.''






 More from ESPN...
Cole sparks Mass to Pool A victory
Craig Cole admits he was ...

DeJesus the spark as Florida remains unbeaten
Richie DeJesus hit a home run ...

Texas powers past Iowa in World Series opener
Robert Psenka was the first ...

Saugus turns two, wins Game 1 in World Series
Tyler Grillo had an RBI ...

 ESPN Tools
Email story
 
Most sent
 
Print story
 
Daily email
 



ESPN.com: Help | PR Media Kit | Sales Media Kit | Contact Us | Tools | Jobs at ESPN.com | Supplier Information | Copyright ©2007 ESPN Internet Ventures. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.