Mission Viejo Runs Over Pottsville Into U.S. Final

Nick Moore scored on a passed ball and Matt Cusick stole home Thursday as undefeated South Mission Viejo advanced to the semifinals of the Little League World Series by eliminating Pottsville, Pa., 3-0.

Gavin Fabian pitched a one-hitter for Mission Viejo, which was to play Bradenton, Fla., Thursday night for a place in Saturday’s final. California teams won the series title in 1961-63 and 1992-93.

Guadalupe, Mexico, beat Yokohama, Japan, 1-0, on Thursday for the other berth in the championship game. Adrian Luna had 13 strikeouts in his second consecutive shutout and drove in the game’s only run with a fourth-inning single. Luna has 21 strikeouts in 12 scoreless innings.

Moore walked in the fourth inning. Then Cusick singled, Dave DeStefano threw a wild pitch and Michael Pilo committed a passed ball, Moore scoring to break a 0-0 tie. Cusick came home on a double steal as second baseman Anthony Mehling dropped Pilo’s throw.

Pottsville scored only one run in 22 innings over three games.

Rod Harper singled in two runs during an eight-run fourth inning as Bradenton eliminated winless Dyer, Ind., 8-2.

Florida has had 18 teams in the series but no champion. Its 1980 team included current major leaguers Gary Sheffield and Derek Bell.

Naruyoshi Endo doubled and scored on Ryoma Hida’s single in the sixth as Yokohama beat the American-Arabian Little League 2-1.