By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
WILLIAMSPORT–Jose Angel Leal struck out 10 batters, hit a home run, and drove in a run and scored one.
Leal did enough to beat Australia on his own, but with a little help from his teammates it ended in four innings as Mexico eliminated Australia in a 10-0 win on Day 7 of the Little League World Series in Williamsport.
Mexico will face the winner of South Korea/Latin America tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Volunteer Stadium.
Patricio Juarez opened the game with a single and quickly advanced thanks to a fielding error and single. Gael Isaac Leal, who reached on an error at second, scored on a wild pitch to put Mexico up 2-0 at the conclusion of the first inning.
Leal continued his pace on Day 7 of the Little League World Series, opening the third inning with a home run to right field. Two singles and a error followed to load the bases and a double from Diego Cantu brought two runners home. The inning’s second double scored two more as Mexico pushed its advantage over Australia to 8-0.
Mexico scored two more in the top of the fourth to put the 10-run-rule into effect.
Leal fanned the first two batters before Gael Isaac Cortez came on to strikeout the final out.
Mexico 10, Australia 0 (4 innings)
MEX 206 2-10 11 0
AUST 000 0-0 1 2
Jose Angel Leal, Gael Isaac Cortez (4), and Luis Lauro Nuncio. Harrison Wheeldon, Brent Iredale (4), and Roan North.
WP: Leal. LP: Wheeldon.
Top Mexico hitters: Jose Angel Leal 2-3, HR, run, RBI. Top Australia hitters: Clayton Campbell 1-2.
Records: Mexico 3-1. Australia 2-2.
