EASLEY—Central Region champion Indiana and the Easley-based host team representing SC District 1 will advance to the semi-final round of the Big League World Series Tuesday.
Indiana technically clinched a spot in the semifinals before playing its final game of pool play Monday night against New Jersey by virtue of its victories over the two 3-1 US teams Easley and California. Easley and California did not play each other in pool play so the tiebreaker for those two will be decided by fewest runs allowed per defensive inning. Easley allowed seven runs in four games while California allowed 13
Indiana will face Easley at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the JB “Red” Owens Recreation Complex in Easley —- six days after an opening day 1-0 victory over the host team July 25.
Puerto Rico, 4-0, faces Venezuela, 3-1, in the International semifinal at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The winners of the two semi-final games will meet at 8 p.m. Wednesday for the Big League World Series championship. That game will be televised nationally by ESPN2 and ESPN3.com.
Easley won three consecutive games after the 1-0 loss to Indiana in its opening contest. The host team got a one-hit complete game shutout from Daniel Nations in a 4-0 victory over Southwest champion Texas to finish pool play 3-1. California’s 5-4 victory over Florida Monday afternoon left the West champion in a tied with Easley for second place. Easley won the tiebreaker which was based on runs allowed per defensive inning. The host team gave up seven runs in four games while California gave up 13 games in its four games.
Both Nations and Stephen McKnight (who threw more than 100 pitches in a 4-2 win over Florida Saturday night) are ineligible to pitch Tuesday or Wednesday because of pitch count rules. Tucker Burgess, the winning pitcher in Friday’s 8-4 victory over New Jersey, is not eligible to pitch Tuesday because of the pitch count rules, but could pitch Wednesday in the championship if Easley advances. Manager Gregg Powell said he had not made a decision about a starting pitcher in the semi-final round.
Indiana gave up only two runs in its first three games. After the victory over Easley, the Central champion defeated Florida (3-1) and California (8-1) prior to Monday.
Puerto Rico has outscored opponents 40-2 and not given up a run in its last 23 innings of play. Puerto Rico defeated Venezuela, 13-0, Sunday in a game called because of the 10-run rule in the sixth inning.
Venezuela won its first three games by a total score of 21-3 before the loss to Puerto Rico Sunday night.
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