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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, August 25, 2003

Mexico defeats Hilo in World Series final

By Mary Beth Kozak
Special to The Advertiser

ABERDEEN, Md. — In a matchup of power hitting against power pitching, pitching prevailed as Mexico defeated Hilo, 13-2, yesterday in the championship game of the Cal Ripken Jr. World Series for 11- to 12-year-olds.

Mexico pitcher Nestor Lopez, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, celebrates after his team won the championship game of the Cal Ripken Jr. World Series for 11- to 12-year-olds yesterday.

Hilo's Blaine Pilayo can't disguise his disappointment as he congratulates Mexico players following the Cal Ripken World Series championship game. Teammate Jordan Demattos follows Pilayo.

Associated Press photos

Hilo, which started the day with a series-best .418 batting average, managed eight hits. Runs, however, were hard to come by against Mexico's touted pitching staff, which brought a 0.84 ERA into the game.

Nestor Lopez, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, permitted four hits in 4¡ innings of relief to earn his third victory of the week. He struck out 10, and got the International champions out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the second to keep the game scoreless.

Lopez also batted 3 for 4, including a two-run homer, and drove in four runs. Mexico had 11 hits, including two home runs.

"Their hitting was there, their pitching was there and everything came together for them," said Hilo manager Kaha Wong. "They were the better team today."

A crowd of 5,561 at Ripken Stadium saw momentum swing Mexico's way in the top of the fourth inning. One pitch by Hilo starter Jeremy Crivello changed everything.

Crivello, who had not allowed a hit through three innings, threw an off-speed pitch that Lopez hammered to left for a two-run homer.

"One pitch made the difference in this game," Wong said.

Crivello, the Most Outstanding Player in the United States division whose walk-off two-run homer Saturday put Hilo into the title game, could not capitalize on his series success.

"I think I just froze up," said Crivello, who had won his previous two starts.

Mexico (7-0) scored seven runs in the fourth, then added one in the fifth and five in the sixth to hand Hilo its only loss of the tournament.

Crivello suffered the loss, yielding nine hits and seven earned runs in five innings. He struck out seven and walked one.

"I told Jeremy, 'Don't be ashamed of what you did. You did a hell of a job through the series,' " Wong said.

Trailing 8-0 in the fifth inning, Hilo got a little ray of hope when Aaron Soong led off with a home run.

Hilo, however, could not sustain the energy that Soong created as it only managed to score once more in the inning when Kolten Wong stole home. Wong, who batted 2 for 2, was the only Hilo hitter to get more than one hit.

Wong replaced Crivello in the sixth inning, but could not retire a batter as Mexico added five runs to move out of reach.

Soong came on in relief and retired all three batters he faced to end the inning.

Unlike Mexico, Hilo's pitching, hitting and fielding never came together. Crivello and Wong struggled on the mound and the defense committed five errors.

"This was an experience we'll never forget," said manager Wong. "Even though we lost the World Championship, we're still American Champions and I don't think we'll ever forget this. They're hurting a little right now, but they'll be OK. One team had to lose, but I'm really proud of them."

The Cal Ripken Hilo team was trying to join Hilo's Senior Little Leaguers (ages 14-16) as World Series champions this summer.

• • •

Mexico 000 715 — 13 11 x

Hilo 000 020 — 2 8 5

W—Nestor Lopez. L—Jeremy Crivello.

Hilo's leading hitters: Kolten Wong 2-2, 1 run; Aaron Soong 1-3, solo homer.