By Justin Hawkins
justin@talkwilliamsport.com
In the final International Game of Day #2 of the Little League World Series, the Latin America Region; Cacamonte Little League of Arraijan, Panama; led all game long and defeated the Canada Region; Whalley Little League of Surrey, British Columbia; by a final score of 8-3 at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport.
Latin America would take early control of this one as their first three batters, Carlos Arcia, Adan Sanchez, and Arod McKenzie, would all reach safely and would all come around to score, giving Latin America a 3-0 lead after a half-inning.
Canada would attempt to respond in the Bottom of the 1st as Andre Juco worked a lead-off walk, and would come around to score on an RBI Single from Dio Gama. Gama would be left stranded, but Canada cut into the Latin America lead at 3-1 after an inning.
Latin America would respond loudly in the Top of the 2nd Inning, as Jean Rodriguez and Carlos Arcia would both reach on a walk and a single respectively, bringing up Adan Sanchez. Sanchez would show off the power he has at the plate, taking a 2-1 offering over the left field wall for a three-run homer, giving Latin America a mountain of an early lead at 6-1. It was also just the second home run hit in the 2018 Little League World Series.
After the second inning, the pitching would settle in for Canada, striking out 9 of the next 10 Latin America batters, allowing just one runner off of a single. Canada would also get four baserunners over that span, but leave them all stranded, keeping the Latin America lead of 6-1 intact into the final inning of play.
The Top of the 6th Inning would see Latin America add two insurance runs as Oliver Gonzalez reached with a lead-off single, and score on a RBI Triple from Carlos Arcia three batters later. Arcia would score as well two batters later on a two-out RBI Single from Arod McKenzie, putting Latin America up 8-1 and leaving Canada with their final three outs.
Canada’s offense would try to rally in the Bottom of the 6th Inning as lead-off men Cole Balkovec and Kai Sheck both reached with singles, and both scored thanks to Passed Balls. Unfortunately, that is all Canada would muster as they fell to Latin America by a final score of 8-3 at Volunteer Stadium.
With the win, Latin America moves on in the Winner’s Bracket to face Japan on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Volunteer Stadium.
With the loss, Canada falls into the Loser’s Bracket and will face Europe-Africa in an elimination game at Volunteer Stadium on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.
