California rallies for rain-shortened win against Ohio at Little League World Series

A closer look at the El Segundo, California, 4-3 win over New Albany, Ohio in four innings, Thursday at Lamade Stadium

Note: Torrential rain forced the game to be called for a 2-hour, 21-minute rain delay, the call being made at 11:15 p.m as curfew approached. A Little League game is official after four complete innings.

PLAY OF THE GAME ― Brody Brooks and Louis Lappe hitting back-to-back home runs: OK, this kind of cheating since it’s two plays, but the sequence, taken as one, changed the game. Brooks smashed a game-tying two-run with no outs in the third inning, driving it to center field and making it, 3-3. A batter later, Lappe went yard, staying with an outside pitch and crushing it the opposite way for a home run over the right field fence. With just two swings, California went from two runs down to one run up.

CALIFORNIA PLAYER OF THE GAME ― Brody Brooks: The slick-fielding shortstop provided pop from the top of the lineup and was in the middle of both California run-scoring rallies. He led off the bottom of the first and scored the team’s first run on Max Baker’s RBI grounder which tied the game, 1-1, before showing off his power and tying the game with his home run.

OHIO PLAYER OF THE GAME ― Austin Sturmi: The bottom of Ohio’s lineup came up big, as it has throughout the postseason, and Sturmi helped highlight that. Sturmi went 1 for 1 with an RBI single, that single putting Ohio up, 2-1 in the second inning. A batter before, Alex Behaein dropped a perfect bunt single.

BIG INNING―California third: The way the first three U.S games at the Series played out, made California’s power display that inning especially stand out. Before Brooks and Lappe went yard six American teams had combined with one home run. Lost in the home run excitement was the key at-bat Lennon Salazar produced. Salazar ignited the rally when he drew a lead-off walk before Brooks and Lappe did their damage.

BEST EFFORT―Declan McRoberts relief pitching: McRoberts maintained his poise in that third inning and minimized the damage after Ohio went up, 3-1. The Great Lakes champions had runners on the corners with one out, but McRoberts hit his stride, getting a strikeout and then inducing an inning-ending pop out. McRoberts kept on surging from there, allowing just one more baserunner over the last two innings and striking out six in three innings while earning the win.

FLASHING LEATHER―Ohio shortstop Owen Nardell showed off his range and arm early. Nardell charged after a grounder which slowed on the infield grass. He quickly made the stop before making a rocket throw which beat speedy Max Baker by a step. A play later, right fielder Beau Spangler showed his defensive prowess. Spangler read a scorching Crew O’Connor liner well and made a running catch, saving a run and preserving a 1-1 tie. California center fielder Max Baker gave his team a lift to start the third inning, covering ample ground, sprinting in and making a super diving catch. That gem denied Kevin Klingerman a lead-off single when Ohio led, 3-1. That was a key play as Nolan Pettinger singled one batter later. Instead of first and second with no outs, it was one man on and Declan McRoberts struck out the next two batters, ending the threat. In the bottom of the inning, California took the lead, highlighting how key that catch was.

HOME RUNS: Eddie Bloch almost made a Tori Hunter like miraculous catch, but Brooks was able to launch his home run just beyond his glove and tie the game. One batter later, Lappe put California ahead to stay when he smashed his home run well over the right field fence and gave the West champions a 4-3 lead.

WHAT IT MEANS― California advances into the winner’s bracket and will play again Monday when it faces the winner of Friday night’s Texas-North Dakota game. Ohio will be back in action Saturday when it faces Nevada in an elimination game.