SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania – How good is Wyatt Erickson?
The Nevada right-hander was all but promised on the mound at the Little League World Series, but it’s fair to argue that it was another aspect of his game that helped push his team in the right direction on Thursday.
In addition to throwing a five-hitter, Erickson scored three runs thanks to some timely strikes – including a big two-run double in Nevada’s decisive inning – to secure a 9-1 first-round victory over South Shore at Lamade Stadium.
South Shore, which entered the LLWS just after an impressive 5-0 victory over previously unbeaten New Jersey in the Metro Region final last week, lost for just the third time in 20 games in the All-Star Baseball Tournament and will need to be at the top of the table if it wants to add another trophy to its already impressive winning streak this summer.
Coach Bob Laterza’s team faces an elimination game Saturday when it faces South Dakota at 3 p.m. at Lamade Stadium. If South Shore wins, it will play again at 9 a.m. Sunday at the same venue.
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“Unfortunately, we couldn’t hear, we couldn’t focus and we just weren’t ourselves today,” Laterza said matter-of-factly. “We weren’t in shape after spending the last five days (in Williamsport) like it was Disneyland, and I don’t mean that in a negative way because they were treated like gold and they deserve everything they got.”
“I tried to get them out of the crisis by pushing them hard like I always do, but it didn’t work today,” added the 32nd-year coach. “But we will fight like we always do. We will be ready for the game on Saturday.”
The 5-foot-10 Erickson had a lot to do with South Shore’s problems, starting with his performance on the mound. The right-hander allowed no earned runs, allowed just two walks and struck out eight – all with momentum – after his impressive no-hitter in the Mountain Region final last week.
“Wyatt is really efficient,” praised manager Adam Johnson. “He is a phenomenal Jug. He is efficient and usually has a low pitch count because he doesn’t mind getting a ground ball and just letting the defense behind him make the plays.”
Meanwhile, South Shore ace Stephen Grippo was also stingy as usual. The left-hander, who allowed no earned runs on five hits and one walk in three innings, reached the third inning with the game scoreless when Nevada’s Liam Sparks got to base 1 on an error in the outfield.
Grippo rebounded to record two of his six strikeouts, but was given a walk by Caleb Gome before Russell McGee (two hits) hit an RBI single to right-center field to make it 1-0. That brought in the right-handed Erickson, who hit a two-run double to deep left field to give the Mountain Region champions a 3-0 lead.
“Wyatt is also a fantastic hitter,” Johnson proclaimed. “He led his team in the regular season and we trust him (at bat). We always preach confidence and for us to come through with two hits like we did was great.”
South Shore itself led a two-out rally early in the fourth inning when leadoff hitter Vin Ruggiero (two BBs) walked and scored when Grippo’s single to right missed, but Erickson prevented further damage by getting a strikeout to end the fourth inning.
Jake Romero, one of three relievers who played Thursday, replaced Grippo at the start of the fourth home run, and Nevada was able to get a run back when Noah Letalu (two hits) scored on a wild pitch after two singles and a walk.
Johnson’s team, however, decided the game one inning later when it sent 10 to the plate. Erickson scored another safety run on a sacrifice fly to center before Letalu (RBI single), Parker Soranaka (RBI single) and Dominic Laino (two-run single) each delivered two safeties with two outs.
“We just wanted to keep it going at that point,” said the left-hander Letalu. “I just wanted to score a run and get us a (comfortable) lead.”
“Our backs are against the wall – we have to win now or we’re going home,” said Laterza, who was hit by Grippo, Chace Curro, Alex Torres, Sean Scarangello and Nicky McLean. “We’re going to put them back where they were, we have no choice.”
