Mexico continues dominance with win over Asia-Pacific

A pair of elimination games highlighted the Tuesday slate for the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.

The day began with Missouri shellacking Canada to advance to the consolation finals against the Caribbean. Mexico then eliminated Chinese Taipei, and in the nightcap, California avoided elimination by taking care of Kentucky.

GAME 1
Midwest (Webb City Little League, Missouri): 18
Canada (White Rock South Surrey Little League): 6
Missouri's offense erupted for three big innings Tuesday. The team scored five runs in the third inning and four in the fifth, punctuating the day with a nine-run sixth. Two Missouri players, Devrin Weathers and Jaystin Smith, belted two-run homers.

NOTABLE PERFORMER
Missouri had several worthy candidates Tuesday, but Weathers stood out for delivering a strong pitching performance -- 4 1/3 innings with three hits and six strikeouts -- to go along with his home run.

GAME 2
Mexico 11
Asia-Pacific (Chinese Taipei) 1
Mexico raced out to an early lead on Tuesday and never looked back, with eight runs in the first three innings and three home runs total. Pitcher Armando Verdugo dominated, lasting five innings and striking out six.

NOTABLE PERFORMER
Mexico's Raul Leon racked up three hits and five RBIs, beginning with a three-run homer in the first and a two-run single in the second.

GAME 3
West (Sweetwater Valley Little League, California): 11
Great Lakes (Bowling Green Eastern Little League, Kentucky): 3
California scored in bunches early and late to stay alive in the tournament. After taking a commanding 5-0 lead after two innings, the team tacked on six runs over the final two frames to hold off a Kentucky team that had opportunities to rally.

NOTABLE PERFORMER
Antonio Andrade set the table for California, scoring four runs and collecting three hits from the top of the lineup. Andrade belted a solo home run to go along with a pair of singles.