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By SAM STANTURF
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 13, 2001
GULFPORT -- The Florida heat had nothing on Louisiana pitcher Myrio Richard.
Richard entered in the bottom of the seventh inning Sunday with a 6-5 lead, no outs and the bases loaded. But Richard struck out three as Louisiana won the Gulf States title and advanced to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
"I could tell Myrio wanted it," Louisiana manager Ben Mount said of his decision to bring in the right-hander. "We were going to throw fastballs and hope that it worked, and it did."
Louisiana used Dylan Guillot's run-scoring single in the top of the seventh to break a tie at 5 and finish the tournament 6-0. It was the team's third extra-innings win of the tournament and it earned the state its first World Series berth since a team, also from South Lake Charles, advanced in 1992.
Davenport (Iowa) East beat Centennial Lakes Little League of Circle Pines, Minn., 4-3 in the Midwest region title game in Indianapolis to advance to the Series.