August 3, 2006

Louisiana clinches spot in pool championships
Dugout

Louisiana, the U.S. Southwest team, was the only team that did not play on the opening day of the Big League World Series. The Cajun team had to wait until Sunday night to face S.C. District One, the three-time defending champions.

After an extra-inning loss to the host team, it would have been easy for Louisiana to give up and simply enjoy the trip to Pickens County. But the team had other ideas. It started with an impressive 10-9 win over Panama. With other action in the BLWS, Louisiana was put into position to clinch a spot in the pool championship series with a win over EMEA Wednesday night.

Since the Southwest Division was created in 2003, no team from that region has reached the pool championship series.

EMEA had yet to break even in BLWS play since the series moved to Easley in 2001. After defeating the U.S. Central team from Michigan, the German players had a chance to become the first EMEA team to win two games. And while an EMEA win wouldn't clinch a spot in the pool championship series, it would make Thursday's game between Panama and Germany more interesting.

But Louisiana was able to take care of business Wednesday night, topping Germany 14-3 in six innings. Louisiana will face the U.S. West team from California Friday at 5:15 p.m. in the first game of the pool championship game Friday night.

Louisiana scored first with a home run by Josh Burnside on the first pitch of the ballgame.

Germany answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. Christopher Howard and B. Antwi each hit singles. Howard came home when Julian Steinberg reached base on an error. Frederick Kraft's double scored Antwi.

The Southwest took control in the second inning, scoring 8 runs. Graham Fuller hit a grand slam in that inning. Jamey Bradshaw knocked in two runs with a double. Jared Jones knocked in another run with a double.

Germany scored another run in the bottom of the second when Mochel Newhauser walked and eventually scored on a passed ball.

Louisiana added another run in the third, and two more each in the fifth and sixth innings to build an 11 -run lead and end the game. Josh Burnside hit a solo homer in the fifth.

Louisiana improved its record to 2-1 and was scheduled to finish its pool play Thursday night against the U.S. Central team. EMEA was scheduled to face Panama. Results of those games were not available at press time.