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Willemstad, Curaçao shuts out Nicaragua in two-hitter to open 2022 Little League World Series

Curacao's Davey-Jay Rijke (8) delivers a pitch against Nicaragua during the fourth inning at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. Curacao won the game 2-0. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)

A closer look at the 2-0 Willemstad, Curaçao win over Managua, Nicaragua on Wednesday at Volunteer Stadium.

PLAY OF THE GAME — Kyshore Hinkel RBI: After Davey-Jay Rijke hit a triple in the top of the sixth inning, Caribbean first baseman Kyshore Hinkel drove him in with a line drive to left field. Hinkel went 2 for 3 at the plate, his second hit giving his club a bit of insurance down the stretch.

CARIBBEAN PLAYER OF THE GAME — Davey-Jay Rijke: Caribbean’s pitcher threw a two-hitter and held Latin America scoreless through 5 1/3 innings of work. Across his 87 pitches, Rijke struck out 14 with just two hits allowed.

With runners in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth, Rijke made a diving play to catch a bunt, preventing de Septiembre from getting on the board after letting up a hit in the frame. He stood up, pumped his fist and fired up a crowd that almost saw its lead erased.

LATIN AMERICA PLAYER OF THE GAME — Luis García: Latin America’s pitcher was the one to make the club’s much-needed knock. García snapped a no-hitter by unloading a line drive to left field, doubling with one out.

On the mound, García struck out 10 with six hits allowed through 5 2/3 innings. Like Rijke, García reached 87 pitches in Game 1.

BIG INNING –Top of the second inning : After a deadlock first inning, Caribbean put one on the board to play ahead the rest of the game.

Third baseman Shemar Jacobus hit a line drive to center to advance Hinkel to third, the latter having put one in center for a one-out single prior. Jaylliard Emperador drove him in with a double to left field along the baseline.

BEST EFFORT — Latin America reaching base in the third inning: With two outs in the bottom of the third inning, Diego Gonsález became the first Latin America player to reach base on a dropped third strike.

He then advanced to second on a passed ball before a groundout closed out the inning. In the midst of a no-hitter up to that point, de Septiembre’s club showed its first sign of life in a one-run game.

FLASHING LEATHER — Both defenses mirrored one another in the first inning. Caribbean opened with a pair of groundouts to the shortstop and second baseman before a strikeout looking retired the top half.

Latin America then grounded out twice to the shortstop to kick off the bottom of the first. A strikeout swinging capped off an initial, scoreless inning in which no one reached base.

It wasn’t until there were two outs in the third inning de Septiembre Little League’s club reached base when Diego Gonsález successfully got on with a dropped third strike.

WHAT THE ADULTS SAY — “It was a good game. Davey-Jay just threw a terrific game, 14 strikeouts,” Caribbean manager Zaino Everett said. “That’s amazing.”

Latin America manager Marlon Chávez declined to attend the postgame press conference.

WHAT THE KIDS SAY — “It was a good-caught ball,” Rijke said on his diving catch in the fourth inning.

WHAT IT MEANS — Caribbean advances in the winners’ bracket and will face Panama at 1 p.m. Friday at Volunteer Stadium. Latin America will face the loser between Puerto Rico and Mexico at 5 p.m. on Saturday in an elimination game at Volunteer.

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