
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 28, 1994                   TAG: 9408300040
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-6   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WILLIAMSPORT, PA.                                  LENGTH: Medium

VENEZUELANS OUTLAST RAIN, U.S. FOR LITTLE LEAGUE TITLE

Venezuela ended the United States' two-year run as Little League champions, beating the California team whose city was ravaged by an earthquake seven months ago.

Venezuela came back after a three-hour rain delay and became the first Latin American team to win the title since 1958, defeating Northridge, Calif., 4-3 on Saturday.

The game was scoreless in the third inning when rain, hail and lightning stopped play. The storm left 18 inches of water in the outfield. When the game resumed 3 hours, 5 minutes later, it was 7:20 p.m. and ABC had cut away from its telecast.

Northridge pitcher Justin Gentile, whose palmball was working so well before the break, and Venezuela pitcher Cesar Hidalgo each were in control when the severe weather hit. But after the game restarted, Gentile threw five wild pitches and gave up seven hits.

Gentile had a 3-2 count on Effinson Mora with two out in the top of the third when the storm came.

After the delay and after a foul tip, Mora doubled to right field, where more than a foot of water had collected two hours earlier. Mora took third when the next pitch sailed over catcher Matthew Cunningham's head and scored two pitches later on Esteban Avila's single to right.

The Venezuelans picked up another run in the fourth when Guillermo Quiroz reached on an error, moved to second on Hidalgo's single and scored two wild pitches later.

The Americans - aiming for the United States' third consecutive title for the first time since 1966 - tied the score at 2 in the bottom of the fourth.

Mathew Fisher walked, then Matthew Cassel and Peter Tuber singled to load the bases. Michael Frost's grounder to second forced Tuber at second, but Mora's throw to first for the double play was off the mark as Cassel scored behind Fisher.

In the Venezuela fifth, Elio Perez singled to right, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored the go-ahead run on Avila's second RBI single of the game. Avila scored - on a wild pitch - after Erik Villalobos walked and Hidalgo singled.

Keywords:
BASEBALL

by CNB