Mancini carries NY to LLWS final game
Michael Mancini led Endwell, New York, to the Little League World Series championship game Saturday, striking out 11 in a 4-2 victory over Goodlettsville, Tennessee, in the U.S. final.
The Mid-Atlantic champs will try to win their first title against international winner South Korea on Sunday. South Korea beat Panama 7-2 in the international final.
Mancini allowed just one hit through 4 2/3 innings. Billy Dundon drove in two runs, and Jack Hopko and James Fellows each had an RBI.
Jon Luke Simmons broke up Mancini’s no-hit bid in the top of the fifth.
Down to his team’s last out, Zach McWilliams gave Tennessee life with a tworun homer off Jude Abbadessa in the top of the sixth. McWilliams’ blast halved New York’s lead, but Abbadessa struck out Carson Rucker to end the game.
RIDIN’ SOLO
Hope Solo has taken an indefinite leave from the Seattle Reign of the National Women’s Soccer League, less than a week after being suspended for six months by the U.S. national team for disparaging remarks about Sweden. The move was announced by the Reign, saying that the Olympic goaltender has been granted personal leave. The team did not say how long Solo would be away.
On Wednesday, she was suspended after calling the Swedes “cowards” for their defensive style of play after the U.S. was ousted by Sweden in the Rio quarterfinals.
FLORIDA ST. COACH DUI
Florida State strength and conditioning coach Vic Viloria has been charged with driving under the influence and property damage.
According to the by Tallahassee Police report, Viloria was arrested Saturday morning after police found him asleep at the wheel at an off ramp near downtown. Officers tried to wake Viloria before be drove away. He traveled up an embankment and hit an electronic cross-walk sign.
MIKE RACES TO WIN
Michael McDowell won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Road America on, edging Brendan Gaughan following an overtime restart.
McDowell beat Gaughan by 0.534 seconds on an overcast, sometimes misty afternoon at the sprawling road course.
McENROE BACKS OUT
John McEnroe says he won’t work with Milos Raonic during the U.S. Open “for Milos’ sake, for ESPN and my sake.”
McEnroe was brought on as a coaching consultant to the Canadian before Wimbledon, where he also serves as a TV commentator. He did not call any of Raonic’s matches for ESPN until the final, when he was asked to provide insight into his player instead of the typical analysis.
GOLDEN GREETING
Thousands of people turned out to welcome gymnasts Aly Raisman and Laurie Hernandez back to their hometowns after they wowed the judges in the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
In New Jersey, residents of Old Bridge staged an elaborate ceremony to honor Hernandez’s accomplishments. In addition to the team medal, she won an individual silver medal in the balance beam.
MAIA FOLLOWS THROUGH
Demian Maia backed up his calls for a welterweight title shot with an early submission victory over Carlos Condit in the main event of UFC Fight Night at Rogers Arena.