UPDATE In a wild, see-saw game in which they gave up 10 runs in the fourth inning only to bounce back to score seven in the fifth, Westport today held on to edge Sammamish, Wash. 14-13 in extra innings to advance to the Little League World Series U.S. final Saturday against Chula Vista, Calif.
Chad Knight singled in the seventh to give Westport the dramatic win. Saturday’s game will be broadcast by ABC at 3:30 p.m.
Westport, which lost to Chula Vista 6-3 on Wednesday, won the coin toss and will be the home team against Calfornia.
The heart-stopping comeback and win—the second over Washington this week—came after Westport trailed by 13-6 going into the bottom of the fifth inning.
Washington pounded Westport starter Harry Azadian for 11 hits in the fourth, seven of them consecutive for what seemed like a commanding 12-5 lead. Westport answered back with a run in the bottom of the fourth, making it 12-6.
Then, after Washington got another run in the top of the fifth, Westport poured it on. Alex Reiner hit a three-run home run to make it 13-9, Drew Rogers hit a single to add a run.
Max Popken hit a two-run homer to make it 13-12, and Chad Knight hit a solo home run to tie it at 13-13. Westport also had homers from Tatin Llmas and Rickey Offenberg.
Tijuana, Mexico will face Tokyo for the international World Series title on Saturday. The winner of that game will face the winner of the Westport-California game for the World Series championship on Sunday.
