Right-hander Antonio Guerrero struck out 12 batters in five innings and Raul Hernandez Jr. closed out the combined no-hitter in the sixth as Mexico mowed down Aruba 2-0 on Wednesday in the opener of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Guerrero faced 18 batters and helped Mexico achieve its fifth no-hitter and third combined no-hitter in the history of the tournament. The 13-year-old touched 77 mph on the radar gun (equating to 99 when converted to MLB mound distance and dimensions).
He worked around two errors and two walks before Hernandez whiffed two of the three batters he faced in the sixth.
Mexico scored the first run of the tournament in the bottom of the second inning when a dropped third strike and throw down to first opened the plate for Ulises Ortiz to slide in for a 1-0 lead.
Mexico plays Venezuela on Friday.
Taiwan 8, Canada 0
Lai Cheng-Xi fanned 10 across 4 2/3 innings before Ciou Zhi-Kai capped a combined no-hitter with three strikeouts over 1 1/3 innings, leading Taiwan to a commanding victory over Canada.
Representing the Asia-Pacific Region, Taiwan now has 12 no-hitters at the Little League World Series, the most of any nation at the tournament. Yu Chia-Jui drove in three runs.
Canada’s Eric Popovich walked in the fifth inning to prevent a perfect game. Canada starter Ben Wegwitz gave up five runs on three hits and six walks in three innings. He struck out four.
Hawaii 3, New Hampshire 1
Hayden Takahashi went 2-for-2 with two RBIs to lift Hawaii over New Hampshire.
The West Region representative did all of its scoring in the first inning, with Takahashi bringing home a pair of runs with a single before Eassie Miller drove in Kanon Nakama with a base hit of his own. Four pitchers combined to toss a one-hitter for Hawaii.
Colton Johnson had an RBI single in the fifth for New Hampshire, which is representing the New England Region. Johnson was also the losing pitcher, yielding three runs and three hits in 2 2/3 innings.
Florida 2, South Dakota 1
James Feliciano struck out 11 in 5 2/3 innings to earn the victory as Florida eked out a win over South Dakota.
Feliciano gave up one run on two hits and three walks. Luis Calo recorded the final out for the save.
South Dakota, representing the Midwest, jumped on top in the fourth inning with an RBI single from Ryan Henry. Florida, representing the Southeast, rallied in the fifth, with Liam Morrisey’s single tying the score before Calo hit go-ahead sacrifice fly.
–Field Level Media
