NOTE: 2016 JLWS REVIEW
The field is down to eight teams still in the hunt for the world championship of Junior League baseball at the 36th annual World Series at Taylor’s Heritage Park, 12111 Pardee Road.
Three teams were eliminated from the race on Tuesday and four more games on Wednesday will narrow the field again.
Today’s schedule:
11 a.m. – Canadian national champion from the Southwest Little League in Lethbridge, Alberta (1-1) vs. Latin America champion Tomas Munoz Little League from Juan Diaz, Panama (1-1). In the must-win game, the winner plays Mexico or Chinese Taipei at 4 p.m. Thursday. The losing team is out of contention.
2 p.m. – USA Southwest champion Padre Little League from Corpus Christi, Texas (0-1) vs. USA Central region champion Midland Northeast/Fraternal Northwest Little Leagues from Midland, Michigan (1-1). In the must-win game, the winner plays Hawaii or South Carolina at 7 p.m. Thursday. The losing team is out of contention.
5 p.m. – Mexico national champion Guadalupe Linda Vista Little League from Guadalupe, Nuevo Leon (2-0) vs. Asia-Pacific champion Shing-Ming Junior Little League from Taoyuan City, Chinese Taipei (2-0). The winner advances directly to the International championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday. The losing team plays at 4 p.m. Thursday against either Canada or Latin America.
8 p.m. – USA West champion Kawaihau Little League from Kapaa, Hawaii (1-0) vs. USA Southeast champion Northwood Little League from Taylors, South Carolina (2-0). The winner advances directly to the USA championship game at 6 p.m. Saturday. The losing team plays at 7 p.m. Thursday against either Texas or Michigan.
Admission is $5 per carload per day or $15 for a week’s pass. Both fees include parking.
The first two games of the day are must-win for all four teams under the new “modified double-elimination” format mandated by Little League International. Once a team loses two games in the tournament, it is out of contention for the world championship of the 13- and 14-year-old division of Little League baseball and plays crossover consolation games between USA and International teams.
Once four teams are left, two teams play one game to determine the International and USA champions on Saturday. The International and USA champs play for the world championship at 1 p.m. Sunday in a game broadcast live by ESPN.
All other games can be viewed via streaming video at the free website service www.ustream.tv/channel/jlws.
The Junior League World Series is the “older brother” of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The Little League series is for 12-year-olds. The Junior League series is for 13- and 14-year-olds.
In all, 11 teams from around the world are competing for the world championship – the biggest field of teams in the history of the event.
TUESDAY’S RESULTS
Lethbridge, Alberta (Canada) 7, Brno, Czech Republic (Europe/Africa) 5: Lethbridge took a 6-1 lead in the top of the third inning and then held on for a 7-5 must-win game over Brno, Czech Republic. The national champions of Canada evened their record at 1-1 and will play another must-win game at 11 a.m. Wednesday against Panama, also 1-1. The Europe/Africa champions from Brno (0-2) were eliminated from contention with their second loss in the “modified double-elimination” format of the tournament and move into the crossover consolidation games. Czech Republic – making its fourth straight appearance in the Junior League World Series – outhit the Canadians 11-6, but couldn’t catch them. Raymond Whitehead went 3-for-3, Marek Krejcirik went 3-for-4 and Ondrej Chlubna went 2-for-3. Krystof Dolezal scored twice. Skylar Braun went 1-for-3 with two runs and an RBI for the winners. Noah Wauters went 1-for-3 and had two RBI. Spencer Aos was 2-for-2 and scored a run. This is the first appearance in the JLWS for a team from Lethbridge.
Juan Diaz, Panama (Latin America) 14, Sydney, New South Wales (Australia) 3: An eight-run second inning put Panama up 11-0 and the Latin America champions coasted to a 14-3 win over the Australian national champions. The game ended on the 10-run mercy rule when Gamaliel Gonzalez belted a three-run home run in the fifth inning. The win evened Panama’s record at 1-1, while the boys from the Corunna Little League in Sydney fell to 0-2. Panama plays Canada in a must-win game at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Australia – making its first-ever appearance in the Junior League World Series – heads for the crossover consolation round. Gonzalez knocked in five of his teams runs. Teammate Alan Meza went 2-for-3, scored two runs and had three RBI. Ian Rodriguez also went 2-for-3, scored once and knocked in three. Lead-off hitter Krysnar Grandison went 2-for-3, scored three runs and knocked in a run. Eduardo Vaughan went 1-for-2 and also scored three times. Winning pitcher Kevin Rios and Adrian Sugastey combined on a four-hitter over the five innings. Adam Mustow’s home run was part of Australia’s three-run surge in the top of the fifth.
Midland, Michigan (USA Central) 12, Salisbury, Maryland (USA East) 2: A walk-off grand slam by Shane Juday gave Midland, Michigan, a 12-2 victory over Salisbury, Maryland, in the night game of the Junior League Baseball World Series. The blast brought the must-win game to an instant conclusion in the bottom of the fifth inning based on the 10-run mercy rule. Juday went 3-for-4 and knocked in six runs in the game. The USA Central champions from Midland improved to 1-1 and will play USA Southwest champion Corpus Christi, Texas, at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The USA East champions from Maryland (0-2) enter the crossover consolation round. On Tuesday night, Michigan outhit Maryland 14-4. Matthew Babinski, Carter Knochel, James Harris and Evin Metiva had two hits apiece. Babinski and Knochel scored two runs each. Harris had two RBI. Winning pitcher Knochel went the distance, striking out five. Paul Oscar had the big blow for Maryland – a two-run homer in the top of the fifth. Teammate Jake Taylor went 2-for-2.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on the Junior League World Series, visit the website www.cityoftaylor.com/worldseries or follow along on the World Series Facebook page, www.facebook.com/juniorleagueworldseries.
NOTEBOOK
Fireworks postponed from opening ceremonies on Saturday night have been rescheduled for Wednesday night after the 8 o’clock game.
The World Series operates on the generosity of sponsors, fundraising efforts and other donations, along with an all-volunteer staff. To make a tax-deductible donation or to become a series volunteer, contact Greg Bzura at (734) 306-3113 or bgregbz@att.net.