Chicago staves off elimination at LLWS
Baseball: Joshua Houston and his teammates from the west side of Chicago aren’t ready to go home just yet.
Pierce Jones and Trey Hondras homered, and Houston hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the fifth inning as Chicago’s Jackie Robinson West beat Cumberland, Rhode Island, 8-7 on Monday night in an elimination game at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
“It means a lot because it’s been 31 years,” said Marquis Jackson, who had two hits and scored twice. “It shows anything is possible.”
The Jackie Robinson West team, representing the Great Lakes, is comprised of all African-American players and is making its first appearance in the World Series since 1983. It will play Pearland, Texas tonight.
Jones led off the game with his fourth homer of the World Series, and Hondras hit a towering three-run homer to center in the second to stake Chicago to a three-run lead.
Undaunted, Cumberland laced six straight hits to spark a five-run rally in the bottom of the third to take a 7-6 lead.
In the fifth, lefty-hitting Darion Radcliff’s hard RBI single to left tied it for Chicago before Houston drove a line drive down the left-field line to bring in pinch-runner Lawrence Noble from second base with the decisive run.
• Pearland knocks out Lynnwood: Layne Roblyer hit a three-run homer in the third inning, his second homer of the tournament, to lead Pearland to an 11-4 win in an elimination game against Lynnwood, Washington.
Pearland scored five runs on two wild pitches, a passed ball and a single in the sixth to seal the win.
• Venezuela stays alive: Ronny Medina struck out nine and Venezuela topped Puerto Rico 2-1.
Julio Rejon hit a solo homer in the first and Jorge Cabrera came home in the second after catcher Alvin Martinez overthrew third base on an attempt to throw out Cabrera stealing.
• Mexico boots Australia: Erick Vela’s three-run home run was enough for Mexico as they defeated Australia 6-2.
Trailing by two in the bottom of the fourth, Vela stepped to the plate with one out and runners at second and third. He hit the first pitch far over right-field wall to put Mexico ahead by two.
NCAA might appeal on cap limit
Miscellany: The NCAA could soon find itself in the awkward position of arguing against capping compensation for future players, based on the ruling in the Ed O’Bannon case.
Several attorneys with antitrust or labor law experience told The Associated Press that the $5,000 annual limit for players was the weakest link in U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken’s decision earlier this month. They claim it may also be the strongest argument for the NCAA in its appeal.
When the decision was originally announced, the cap was seen as a partial victory for the NCAA. But lawyers not involved in this case say Wilken’s number could be seen as arbitrary, creating a potential opening to overturn the ruling.
The NCAA has until Wednesday to file its appeal.
• Palmer gets pacemaker: Arnold Palmer has had a pacemaker implanted to correct an abnormal heartbeat.
According to his website, Palmer had successful surgery at the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh. The seven-time major champion turns 85 on Sept. 10.
White leaves Kansas for Nebraska
Men’s basketball: Andrew White III has transferred from Kansas to Nebraska.
The 6-foot-7, 210-pounder from Richmond, Virginia, will have to sit out this season under transfer rules. He’ll have two years of eligibility remaining.
White appeared in 19 games last season, averaging 2.3 points.
Reijnen opens Pro Challenge with win
Cycling: Kiel Reijnen of UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling won the first stage of the USA Pro Challenge, edging Alex Howes of Garmin-Sharp in a two-man sprint across the finish line in Aspen, Colorado.
Reijnen and Howes completed the 61-mile route in 2 hours, 26 minutes, 35 seconds.
Defending champion Tejay van Garderen, the favorite in the 16-team race, finished in a pack of 15 riders that crossed the finish line 12 seconds behind Reijnen and Howes.