SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Josh Ferry pitched a one-hit shutout as Lemont, Ill., topped Columbus, Ga., 2-0 as both moved on to the U.S. semifinals.
Ferry struck out 13, including the first five batters he faced, in a must-win situation. His victory forced a three-way tie with three 2-1 teams in Pool A.
Lemont advanced with the best runs-allowed ratio and Columbus moved on by virtue of its 4-1 win over Phoenix on Sunday.
Lemont scored both its runs in the second inning. Jeff Worsech was hit by a pitch and advanced on a wild pitch before scoring on a throwing error.
Austin Mastela, who was taken to the hospital after being hit in the head by a pitch Sunday night, walked and later scored on a single by Michael Hall to make it 2-0.
Lemont faces Beaverton, Ore., today in one of the U.S. semifinals.
Portsmouth, N.H. meets Columbus in the other semifinal on Thursday.
Venezuela plays Matamoros, Mexico, today in one international semifinal. Dhahran, Saudi Arabia faces Kawaguchi City, Japan, on Thursday.
ARIZONA 4, NEW YORK 1: Staten Island, N.Y., was eliminated as Phoenix got a strong effort from pitcher Shaun Chase, who struck out 10, homered and drove in a run with a single.
CANADA 2, SAIPAN 1: Braeden Smith started the winning rally in the bottom of the sixth with a single with two strikes for Surrey, British Columbia. Smith scored on an error and Justin Atkinson singled to drive in Brody Hawkins to win it.
Japan 7, Curacao 2: Go Matsumoto struck out 12 and hit a grand slam for Japan, which eliminated last year's international champion.
Venezuela 1, Saudi Arabia 0 (8): Jose Martinez singled in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning for Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Both teams move on to the semifinals.
