Curacao wins LLWS title

Mon., Aug. 30, 2004

Associated Press

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Carlos Pineda looked shaky when he started with three consecutive balls and then hit California’s leadoff batter. But he got a lot better in a hurry.

Pineda struck out 11 and Jurickson Profar hit a two-run homer as Pabao Little League of Willemstad, Curacao, took an early lead and held on for a 5-2 victory over Conejo Valley of Thousand Oaks, Calif., in the Little League World Series championship on Sunday night.

Teams from Curacao reached the international final game the previous three years, but lost each time to a team from Japan.

It was almost a complete collapse for a California team that many expected to dominate. Conejo Valley committed just two errors in five games, but had three errors by the end of the third inning of the title game.

California’s coaches refused to come to the postgame news conference.

In the consolation game, Lamar National Little League of Richmond, Texas, beat Linda Vista Little League of Guadalupe, Mexico, 5-0. Randal Grichuk’s second hit of the game for Texas tied the record for hits in a series with 12.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Curacao wins LLWS title

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Updated: Top-seeded Gonzaga looks to finish WCC tenure with flourish at conference tournament

Updated: Cheney leaves no doubt, rolls to 3A championship | State golf

Updated: Mt. Spokane's senior class looking to cap prep careers with deep run at state tournament | Fastpitch softball