Time Out: Long Beach Pony League

I take a time-out from the hullabaloo of the Olympics to let you know that Long Beach Pony League is on the cusp of greatness. Bring on Taiwan or Puerto Rico. More so those Taiwanese.

LB rally places team in title tilt

YOUTH BASEBALL: Team rallies late with three runs, will face Taiwan or Puerto Rico.

By Brian Biaotto, Correspondent

Article Launched: 08/14/2008 11:19:46 PM PDT

The Long Beach All-Stars scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning and were able to hold off Tamiami, Fla., 9-7, at the Pony World Series in Washington, Pa. to advance to the championship game Saturday at 10 a.m. PDT.

They did it in spite of committing four errors, several base running blunders, leaving 12 runners on base and trailing 6-3 in the sixth inning.

Daniel DeWolf was the star of the game, going 5-for-5 with two doubles, three RBIs, three runs scored and stole three bases for Long Beach.

Chase DeJong came in and closed out the win for Long Beach, going the seventh inning and allowing a run.

DeJong struck out two to secure the Long Beach spot in the title game.

"The atmosphere was electric and you could feel the tension in the air," Long Beach manager Ken Jakemer said. "This was the worst defensive night we've had and we were just fortunate we hit so well. We will need to play our best baseball to win the championship on Saturday."

Soloman Williams went the first four innings for Long Beach, allowing four runs, but only two were earned. Williams gave up six hits, walked one and struck out four.

A leadoff walk and an error in the bottom of the fourth inning did Williams in, then Tamiami scored four runs to take a 5-3 lead.

Long Beach came back with three runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 6-5 lead.

Oliver Van Buskirk went 1 innings before being replaced by DeWolf, who inherited a bases loaded and two-out jam.

DeWolf hit a Florida batter to bring in the tying run, but got Joey Gomez to get out of the inning.

Thomas Walker had two hits and drove in four runs, Oliver Van Buskirk hit a solo home run to start the sixth inning rally and Avery Flores had two hits and scored three times.

Said Jakemer: "I don't want to begin thinking where we'd be without Daniel's (DeWolf) performance tonight."

Long Beach (14-0) saw undefeated Taiwan lose its first game of the tournament Thursday in a 7-4 setback to Puerto Rico.

The winner of today's rematch will face Long Beach on Saturday in the title game.