Africa lands first win

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — The first team from Africa in the Little League World Series will go home with one win.

“This was so great,” Lugazi, Uganda, manager Henry Odong said after the 32 victory over Gresham, Ore., in a consolation game yesterday.

Players Justine Makisimu, Ronald Olaa, Daniel Alio and Felix Enzama all said they thought they could win going into the game.

After watching Taiwan play, Odong said he impressed on the team just to make contact because “one of the biggest challenges we had was hit ting.” Each team had seven hits but Uganda had four of them in the two innings it scored.

“I’m thankful we could come here,” Odong said. “This win was so great.”

Uganda tied the game at 22 in the bottom of the fourth inning on consecutive singles by Alio and Enzama. Alio eventually scored on a wild pitch and Enzama on a passed ball.

Uganda grabbed the lead in the fifth when Olaa singled and Alio walked. Olaa scored the winning run from second when Oregon shortstop Brett Falkner’s throw to first in an attempt to com plete a double play went wild.

Alio, who struck out eight and walked two, reached his pitch count limit with one out in the sixth. After getting a second out, reliever Job Echon gave up a single but then got Ethan Marshall to line back to him to preserve the victory.

Uganda’s official series record is 12, but the team plans on playing more friendship games.

Mexico 6, Curacao 2

Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, is moving on to tomorrow night’s international semifinals after a victory over Willemstad, Curacao.

Ramon Ballina hit a threerun drive for his third homer of the tournament.