Little League

Calif. slugger keeps streak alive versus La.

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Kalen Pimentel sure is having a grand time in the World Series.

Pimentel hit his second grand slam in two games to lead undefeated Rancho Buena Vista of Vista, Calif., to a 9-3 win over Lafayette, La., on Tuesday night.

Pimentel's fourth-inning slam broke the game open for Rancho Buena Vista (3-0) and followed one he hit Sunday that snapped a tie. Pimentel also tied a Little League World Series record for a six-inning game with 18 strikeouts on Saturday.

On the mound or at the plate, Pimentel is making Rancho Buena Vista a championship favorite. Pimentel joked the ball was looking pretty big to him in this series.

"It's not as big as a pumpkin, but that's pretty close," he said.

Today, Japan will play Canada in the International semifinals, and Rancho Buena Vista will face Maitland in the U.S. semis.

"We've prepared all we can do," Rancho Buena Vista manager Marty Miller said. "We've won 23 straight games now. We don't want to teach the kids how to lose."

Austin White earned the win for California, allowing one run and five hits over three innings.

Reed Reznicek added a two-run homer for Rancho Buena Vista and Royce Copeland pitched out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam when the game was still tight.

Trailing 5-1 entering the fourth, Lafayette (2-1) tacked on another run thanks to a throwing error and loaded the bases looking ready to score again.

But Copeland struck out Brenn Conrad on a wild pitch and Alex Miller was thrown out at the plate for a double play. Then Copeland got Jace Conrad to strike out to end the rally.

MAINE 3, KENTUCKY 2: Zach Collett hit a three-run homer in the third to rally Westbrook, Maine (1-2). Trailing 2-0, Westbrook had two runners on when Collett crushed one over the right-center fence for a 3-2 lead and sent the fans scurrying for the ball. Sean Murphy gave up three hits and two runs in three innings to earn the win.

GUAM 5, MEXICO 3: Sean Manley hit a two-run single to highlight a four-run fifth and Trae Santos struck out nine batters to lead Mangilao-Barrigada, Guam. Mexico finished 1-2.

CANADA 2, RUSSIA 1: Alex Dunbar struck out 10 and tossed a four-hitter for Surrey, British Columbia (2-1). Moscow (0-3) committed two errors in the first inning that led to two unearned runs. Surrey didn't get a hit in the inning, scoring one run on a wild throw and another on an run-scoring groundout from first baseman Jeff Degano.

VENEZUELA 4, SAUDI ARABIA 0: Victor Sequera and Richard Alvarez combined for eight strikeouts and allowed two hits for Latin America champion Valencia (1-2).

[Last modified August 24, 2005, 01:16:13]