Little League: Georgia joins semifinalists after stroll past Walpole

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Straight-faced Payton Purvis was trying to answer a question when he heard Dalton Carriker giggling to his right.

Purvis and Carricker had plenty to be happy about after they helped Warner Robins, Ga., beat Walpole, Mass., 8-1 on Wednesday at the Little League World Series.

Georgia clinched a berth in the U.S. semifinals and learned later that its opponent would be Chandler, Ariz., which defeated Coon Rapids, Minn. 9-2. The other U.S. semifinal will feature unbeaten Lubbock, Texas, against Lake Oswego, Ore.

In the international bracket, Mexicali, Mexico, lost both ends of a day-night doubleheader, 4-2 to Taichung, Taiwan, and 11-1 to Maracaibo, Venezuela. Also, Willemstad, Curacao, defeated White Rock, British Columbia, 6-2.

Japan will face Taiwan in one international semifinal today, with Venezuela vs. Curacao in the other matchup.

Purvis, who drove in two runs with a single, said his team’s accomplishments haven’t sunk in yet.

“It will really settle in when the whole tourney is over and you realize you are one of the four best teams in the country,” the 12-year-old outfielder said.