Curacao, Conn., Mexico avoid elimination at LLWS

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. ? Kevin Oricoli finally has bragging rights over his big brother.

Not many 12-year-old boys can say they hit a two-run single at the Little League World Series.

Oricoli?s two-out clutch hit keyed a three-run third inning, and Matt Kubel silenced Nebraska?s bats to help Fairfield, Conn., avoid elimination Saturday at the Little League World Series with a 12-0 victory.

Oricoli is savoring the moment ? and not just because his team is one step closer to a Little League title.

His 14-year-old brother, Jack, played on the Fairfield American All-Star team last year that lost in the regional semifinals. Egged on by his manager, Bill Meury, Oricoli didn?t waste an opportunity to talk smack following Saturday?s win after a reporter asked who was getting the last laugh in the Oricoli family.

"Right now, right now, everyone except my brother. As you know, I made it farther than him," Oricoli said, smiling, as Meury laughed. "Now, he?s jealous of me and now it?s kind of awkward around him now because he?s jealous."

The kids from Curacao were feeling pretty good, too, after staying in contention with a 14-2 victory over Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The Kearney, Neb., team and Germany will play Monday in a consolation game after both teams were eliminated.

Mexico also relied on the lumber in eliminating from contention the adopted hometown favorites from Uganda, 12-0. Three Mexico pitchers tossed the first combined perfect game in World Series history in a contest that ended after four innings due to Little League?s 10-run rule.

In the nightcap, Emil Matti hit two solo homers and scored four runs to spark Parsippany, N.J.?s 10-4 victory that eliminated Gresham, Ore. Uganda will play Oregon in another consolation game Tuesday.

Connecticut gets a well-earned day off before returning to the diamond Monday. Kubel, a 13-year-old lefty whose favorite player is Yankees ace lefthander C.C. Sabathia, frustrated his foes with well-placed fastballs and about a half-dozen harmless bouncers to third.

Kubel, who struck out six over 4 2-3 innings, was a little anxious coming into the elimination game.

"Obviously, you get a little nervous looking at 10,000 people in the stands, but I just tried to focus and play my game," he said with an ice pack strapped to his left elbow.

Nebraska?s strategy to swing early in the count to avoid falling behind to Kubel and his big curve didn?t work.

After Connecticut?s own slow start, the offense exploded for three runs in the third and six in the fourth. Both times, the bottom of Connecticut?s order got the rallies going.

Ninth-place hitter Patrick Steed reached base on a walk in the third before coming home on Oricoli?s single. Steed also doubled in a run in the fourth. Will Lucas added a homer and five RBIs.

Nebraska manager Brad Wegner hoped to get his team refocused to leave South Williamsport with a win in Monday?s consolation game.

? Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source: http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/other_sports/general/view.bg?articleid=1061154333&srvc=rss

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