Bronx Pitcher Eliminates Oceanside With 1-Hitter

Danny Almonte wasn’t perfect, but he was about as close as you can get.

The 12-year-old left-hander followed his perfect game by striking out 16 in a one-hitter Thursday night and the Rolando Paulino team from the Bronx, N.Y., defeated Oceanside, 1-0.

New York (4-0) will have a rematch against Apopka, Fla., (3-1) in Saturday’s U.S. championship game.

A controversial play led to the run.

Pinch-hitting for Reynaldo Guava with two out in the fifth inning, Santo Sierra singled to left for the Bronx. Guava came back in as a pinch-runner and advanced to third on a hit over first base by Kenny Espinal.

Television replays showed Guava missed second base, and after conferring with his manager, pitcher Thomas Eukovich appealed at second, but the second-base umpire ruled Guava safe.

Eukovich then intentionally walked Tommy Guzman to load the bases. Guava scored on Rolando Torres’ hit that went about 10 feet in front of home plate.

Guava said he believed he touched the bag, but even Bronx Manager Alberto Gonzalez said Guava probably should have been called out.

“From my view, I didn’t see it, but I didn’t think he touched it,” Gonzalez said.

Some of the parents of the Oceanside players in the stands were called on cell phones and told the runner missed the base. They in turn told Oceanside Manager Daryl Wasano to appeal.

Almonte gave up just a first-inning single and did not go to a three-ball count on any batter. His pitches reached 77 mph.

Almonte also struck out 16 in the perfect game, including the first 15 batters.

He will not be able to face them again because Little League rules prohibit pitchers from throwing consecutive games.

Against Oceanside --a team that came in batting .333, with five batters at .500 or better --the only two outs that weren’t strikeouts came in the fourth inning, a popup caught by Almonte and a grounder to third.

Johnny Jimenez spoiled Almonte’s bid for a second perfect game in the bottom of the first with a clean single to right.

“I just let it hang,” Almonte said of the pitch. “I felt great I did my job for the team.”

Netherlands Antilles 4, Guam 3--Willemstad, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles scored two runs in the fifth when Guam misplayed two sacrifice bunts.

Netherlands Antilles (3-1) will face Tokyo Kitasuna (3-1) in Saturday’s international championship.