LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES

California will face Japan in title game

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - When California starter Nick Mora had to leave the game with one out to go, he wasn’t too happy.

“I wanted that complete game. I was kind of disappointed,” Mora said.

He was all smiles moments later when reliever Giancarlo Cortez recorded the final out, completing Chula Vista’s 12-1 victory over Westport, Conn., in the U.S. title game of the Little League World Series on Saturday.

California will play Japan for the World Series title today. Japan beat Mexico 3-2 earlier Saturday on Takuma Gomi’s lead off home run in the sixth inning.

Mora gave California the spark it needed with ace right hander Grant Holman not eligible to pitch until today. Mora struck out 10 and walked one before reaching his pitch limit.

“When I was pitching, I knew most of their weaknesses and I was able to hit those spots,” said Mora, who also drove in four runs with a home run and a single. “When I was hitting, I wasn’t trying to hit a home run. I was just trying to hit a line drive up the middle. That’s when the home runs come.”

California took a 6-1 lead in the first two innings against the New England champions, scoring three times in the first with the help of some sloppy Connecticut play, and adding three more on Mora’s long three-run home run in the second.

The West champions added six runs in the sixth on a passed ball, a wild pitch, an error, Mora’s RBI single, and a two-run double by Michael Gaines.

It had been a memorable World Series for both teams.

The 6-4 Holman pitched the first extra-inning no-hitter in the Little League World Series since 1979, striking out 13 in seven innings in a 3-0 first round victory over Grosse Pointe, Mich.

Holman also won Wednesday night’s game against Connecticut with a three-run home run in the ninth inning, and he hit a grand slam in the fourth inning that ended a mercy rule-shortened 15-3 victory over Newark, Del.

For Connecticut, Chad Knight lined a run-scoring single to deep left field in the seventh inning to give the New England champions a wild 14-13 victory over Sammamish, Wash., on Friday. He also hit a home run to tie it at 13-13 in the fifth.

At a glance

LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES At South Williamsport, Pa.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Japan 3, Mexico 2

U.S. CHAMPIONSHIP California 12, Connecticut 1

TODAY’S GAMES All times Central

THIRD-PLACE GAME Mexico vs. Connecticut, 10 a.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP Japan vs. California, 2 p.m.

Sports, Pages 34 on 08/25/2013

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