Taylor has brilliant performance on mound to help Alabama beat Washington at LLWS
Southeast manager Case Rasmus encourages his team as they come off the field after the top of the second inning against Northwest at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Ryker Rasmus (center) and Kinley Rasmus of Southeast celebrate after Winston Weaver of Northwest is forced out a first base during the 2nd inning at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Cooper Champion of Southeast throws in the 4th inning against the Northwest at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Kinley Rasmus of Southeast hits a single against the Northwest during the 5th inning at the Little League World Series. The hit made Rasmus the all-time hit leader for a girl at the LLWS. The Southeast won 4-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Easton Allen of Southeast collides with catcher Evan Yarbrough of Northwest at the Little League World Series. Allen was out at home on the play from the 5th inning. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Kinley Rasmus of Southeast reacts as she stands on first base after hiting a single against the Northwest during the 5th inning at the Little League World Series. The hit made Rasmus the all-time hit leader for a girl at the LLWS. The Southeast won 4-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Kinley Rasmus of Southeast runs to first on a single against Northwest at the Little League World Series. The Southeast team won 4-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Anthony Romero of Northwest catches a fly ball in center field hit by Cedric Harrison Jr. of the Southeast team at the Little League World Series. Souteast won 4-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Casen Smith of Southeast connects on a first inning RBI-double against Northwest at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
The Southeast laugh as they do pregame hype videos for ESPN at Lamade Sadium before their game against Northwest at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
The Southeast wave to family and friends from the field at Lamade Sadium before their game against Northwest at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
The Southeast talk with family and friends through the fences at Lamade Sadium before their game against Northwest at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Southeast manager Case Rasmus encourages his team as they come off the field after the top of the second inning against Northwest at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Ryker Rasmus (center) and Kinley Rasmus of Southeast celebrate after Winston Weaver of Northwest is forced out a first base during the 2nd inning at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Cooper Champion of Southeast throws in the 4th inning against the Northwest at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Kinley Rasmus of Southeast hits a single against the Northwest during the 5th inning at the Little League World Series. The hit made Rasmus the all-time hit leader for a girl at the LLWS. The Southeast won 4-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Easton Allen of Southeast collides with catcher Evan Yarbrough of Northwest at the Little League World Series. Allen was out at home on the play from the 5th inning. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Kinley Rasmus of Southeast reacts as she stands on first base after hiting a single against the Northwest during the 5th inning at the Little League World Series. The hit made Rasmus the all-time hit leader for a girl at the LLWS. The Southeast won 4-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Kinley Rasmus of Southeast runs to first on a single against Northwest at the Little League World Series. The Southeast team won 4-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Anthony Romero of Northwest catches a fly ball in center field hit by Cedric Harrison Jr. of the Southeast team at the Little League World Series. Souteast won 4-2. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Casen Smith of Southeast connects on a first inning RBI-double against Northwest at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
The Southeast laugh as they do pregame hype videos for ESPN at Lamade Sadium before their game against Northwest at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
The Southeast wave to family and friends from the field at Lamade Sadium before their game against Northwest at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
The Southeast talk with family and friends through the fences at Lamade Sadium before their game against Northwest at the Little League World Series. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
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Jerry Taylor never received the memo which said Phenix City, Alabama's pitching options were limited entering Tuesday's Little League World Series game against Tacoma, Washington.
Because he sure looked like quite an ace.
Taylor threw five brilliant innings, allowing just four hits, three which were infield singles, as Alabama won its third straight game in four days, defeating the Northwest champions, 4-1. Cedric Harrison Jr. earned the save, coming up huge after a Smith Huteson RBI double made it, 4-2. With the tying run at the plate two straight times, Harrison induced a liner to Casen Smith at second base and a game-ending pop out to Kinley Rasmus.
Alabama avenged its opening Series loss, eliminated Washington and earned a spot in the U.S. Final 4. The Southeast champions play again Wednesday night against the winner of Tuesday night's New Jersey-Ohio game.
Cam Lee hit an RBI double and Smith, Rasmus and Ryker Rasmus all had RBI singles. Kinley Rasmus went 2 for 3 and broke the Series record for hits by a girl with her fifth and has RBIs in three straight games. Rasmus also has records for most pitching wins and strikeouts at the Series, sharing both with Mo'ne Davis.
The offense came alive against Washington ace Frankie McCabe who dominated Alabama last Wednesday in a 2-0, seven-inning win. Still, the story was Taylor and who stifled a dangerous offense and threw five scoreless innings. The right-hander let his defense work, although he also struck out three batters. He also was tough in big situations, leaving two runners on base in both the fourth and fifth innings.
"He's a champion; hes a winner," Alabama manager Case Rasmus said. "Nobody deserves it more than him. What a humongous moment."
Harrison came up big as well and Smith's snare of a wicked Quinn Herchold liner played a massive role as Alabama closed out the win.
The team from Phenix City has equaled the 1999 team from there which also won three straight Series games following an opening loss. Both teams also have avenged those defeats in rematches.
Casen Smith's first inning RBI single put Alabama ahead to stay before Lee nearly hit his second home run, settling for a long RBI double to center field. Kinley Rasmus made it 3-0 with her record-tying RBI single in the third and cousin Ryker Rasmus, pushed the lead to 4-1 an inning later.
McCabe hit a fourth inning sacrifice fly for Washington which won its first two Series games and captured both the first league title for Soundview Little League since 1970 and its first regional crown.