Saturday, August 16, 2003
Four-run first inning opens door for win
Associated Press
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Robert Psenka was the first to
admit he didn't pitch his best game Saturday. Fortunately for his
teammates, Psenka found his offense.
Psenka had two hits and three RBIs to lead Richmond, Texas, past
Eldridge, Iowa, 7-2 at the Little League World Series.
He said he took his cue from leadoff batter Jimmy Michalek, who
gave him a scouting report on Eldridge pitcher Matt Petersen.
"Jimmy said that he didn't throw very hard,'' Psenka said. "I
just went up there and I swung. It was good to get some confidence
back, because I didn't hit very well in the regionals.''
Psenka, still trying to adjust to throwing a curveball, allowed
five hits and had six strikeouts.
Richmond led Eldridge 4-0 after the first inning.
Psenka hit a bases-loaded double, a grounder that went all the
way to the center-field wall. Brian Foster's RBI single scored
Garret Staudt, and Psenka came home on an infield error.
"That's a trademark of this team. We jumped out on some teams,
and that's a huge advantage,'' manager Jim Michalek said.
In the fourth, Psenka's RBI single to left field scored Jimmy
Michalek to make it 6-1. Wayne Willis, whose grounder to center
field got him on base, scored Richmond's final run on an infield
error in the fifth.
Eldridge made four errors.
"If they make the plays they usually make, it's a much closer
game,'' Eldridge manager Paul Tremmel said.
Arizona 5, Delaware 1
Tyler Kem and Matt Potter each homered in a four-run fifth
inning for Chandler. Cory Bernard had a solo home run for Chandler
to tie it 1-1 in the first.
Mexico 2, Russia 1
Diego Espinosa and Alejandro Manjarrez hit back-to-back homers
in the first, and Mexico City never trailed.
Venezuela 9, Guam 0
Juan Rivera and Jimali Fermin each hit a homer, and Venezuela
pitcher Angel Reverol struck out nine and allowed just three hits.
