Ah, the Little League World Series – where dreams are as fresh as the grass on the field and every game has the potential to become legendary. This year, the boys from Liga de Matamoros AC, comes from Tamaulipas, Mexicotook the stage in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and I can tell you, their performance was amazing. If you love a good story about a team coming together and a pair of young arms that exude an unusual posture for their age, then this is the one for you.
In their opening game The Mexican team took on Aruba and it was clear from the start that these guys were here to make a statement. The score may have been 2-0, but the real story was in the way those runs were defended. You see, a no-hitter is rare enough in the majors, let alone Little League. But that is exactly what Antonio Guerrero and Raúl Hernández delivered – a masterpiece of pitching That would make any experienced professional respectfully take their hat off.
The game started well, but at the end of the second inning it became more exciting. Then The young Ulises Ortiz, carrying all the hopes of a nation on his shoulders, took the lead. In his only official batting appearance, Ortiz not only hit the ball but also played smart and hit a solid base hit that eventually crosses home plate for Mexico’s first run. It was nothing special, but in a game like this, runs are worth their weight in gold, and Ortiz’s effort earned Mexico a point.
In the fourth inning, Mexico wanted to extend its lead and the tension in the air was greater than on a summer day in Tamaulipas. Aruba, desperately trying to keep the game within reach, found itself in a bind with the bases loaded. Luis Longoria then got one for the team, literally, when a pitch grazed him and forced Mexico’s second run. It was aanother defining moment, but the real magic happened again on the hill.
Antonio Guerrero was outstanding from the start. This young right-hander showed a kind of control that would make any coach grin from ear to ear. In five innings, he did not allow a single hit. Sure, He allowed three walks but more than made up for it with 11 strikeouts. Imagine this: 11 strikeouts in a Little League game. The spectators knew they were witnessing something special.
And then, when everything was hanging in the balance in the last inning, Raúl Hernández Jr. came into the game. If there was any doubt about the outcome, Hernández dispelled it with two more strikeouts. The no-hitter was complete and Mexico won 2-0. While the boys from Mexico celebrated on the field, one had the feeling that one had just witnessed the beginning of something truly remarkable.
Next up for this talented team is a showdown on Friday, 16 August, against the representative of the Latin America region. A win there and who knows how far this team can go? The road ahead may be long, but after a start like that, it would be hard to bet against these guys from Tamaulipas. They have the talent, they have the heart, and now they have a no-hitter under their belt. Not bad for a day’s work, don’t you think?
