By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
WILLIAMSPORT–One game after posting just two hits against Latin America, Mexico’s offense came to life against Italy in the first elimination game of the 2016 Little League World Series.
Mexico scored in the second, third, fourth, and sixth innings to hold the lead over Italy overcome six fielding errors.
Defensively, Jose Angel Leal, Gael Isaac Cortez, and Milton Gonzalez combined for a six-hitter as Mexico defeated Italy 12-7.
The loss eliminates Italy from the tournament.
The game got away from Italy in the sixth when a series of hits, including a home run from Gael Isaac Cortez, helped Mexico put the game away.
Mexico scored eight runs in the top of the sixth to take a 12-1 lead over Italy.
Italy didn’t go away quickly, though. After scoring one run through the first five innings, Italy scored six in the bottom of the sixth.
Two singles opened the inning and a series of fielding errors took care of the rest as Italy tried desperately to get back into the game.
Samuele Gamberini recorded Italy’s first hit of the game, a single up the middle of the infield. After a strikeout for the inning’s second out, Gamverini was picked off at first to end the inning.
After posting just two hits in its opening game against Latin America, Mexico recorded two hits through the first two innings in Saturday’s contest against Italy.
Mexico added a run in the top of the second thanks to two singles, a walk and hit batter.
One day after opening the World Series on the mound, Victor Juarez started the second with a single. Jose Manuel Miranda followed with a single and Eduardo Gael Garcia loaded the bases with a walk. Mexico only came away with one run as a grounder to second ended the inning.
Gael Isaac Cortez hit a home run in the third to give Mexico a 2-0 lead over Italy. He then hit a home run in the sixth to extend Mexico’s lead over Italy to 6-1.
Mexico would keep rolling in the sixth, scoring eight runs to push their total to 12.
Cortez came on in relied in the third and struck out the first two batters he faced. Jose Angel Leal and Cortez combined to strikeout six batters through three innings.
Fabian Alejandro Mar came on to pinch-hit in the fourth and connected with a triple to score Mexico’s third run of the day. Mar then scored on a passed ball to push Mexico’s lead to 4-0 over Italy.
Italy’s Gabriele Persici hit a single to open the bottom of the second inning, but was caught heading to second on a fielder’s choice. A strikeout ended the inning and kept Italy off the board.
Italy’s first run came in the fourth when consecutive throwing errors allowed Gamerini to score from third. Gamerini opened the inning with a single and advanced on a passed ball and error.
Mexico Italy
MEX 011 208-12 12 6
ITA 000 106-7 6 3
Jose Angel Leal, Gael Isaac Cortez (3), Milton Gonzalez (5), and Luis Lauro Nuncio. Tomasco Adomi, Francesco Segreto (2), Samuele Gamerini (3), Alessandro Ercolani (3), Federico Tiburtini (4), Filippo Laghi (5), and Tommasco, Ghidoni.
WP: Cortez. LP: Adorni.
Top Mexico hitters: Gael Isaac Cortez 2-3, 2 HR, 2 runs, 3 RBI. Top Italy hitters: Gabriele Persici 2-2, 2B, 2 runs.
Records: Mexico 1-1. Italy 0-1.
