SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Joe McGuire's children pulled off a rare double play.
The Tampa manager and his son, Michael, kicked off this year's Little League World Series in fine fashion when Florida routed Rapid City, S.D., 10-0 in a four-inning no-hitter Friday.
His daughter, Morgan, was hundreds of miles away this week playing at the Big League Softball World Series in Kalamazoo, Mich. It was an unexpected but pleasant family dilemma.
Morgan's team ended up getting eliminated, and a family friend drove her to South Williamsport late Thursday night, in time for her to watch Florida (1-0) celebrate victory.
"She was in the stands watching," McGuire said. "Perfect."
Other games Friday included Maracaibo, Venezuela against White Rock, British Columbia; Shelton, Conn., versus Waipahu, Hawaii; and Jeffersonville, Ind., against Hagerstown, Md.
Florida's combined no-hitter led off the day.
Starter Levi Gilcrease and relievers Darren Miller and Kevin Merrell held South Dakota in check in a game that ended after four innings due to Little League's 10-run rule.
South Dakota (0-1) loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second after Logan Anderson walked. McGuire lifted Gilcrease and inserted Miller, who promptly struck out Matt Wilson and Carter Wevik to preserve the shutout.
"It was a little bit of pressure," Miller said, smiling, "and my arm was feeling good."
Florida's hitters came through early and took advantage of early wildness by South Dakota starter Tanner Simons. Simons walked two hitters and hit another with a pitch to load the bases to lead off the game. Wyatt Reid followed by lining a fastball away to center for a three-run triple.
The first appearance by a team from South Dakota at the Little League World Series ended on a down note.
"The boys came out a little tight," South Dakota coach Steve Nolan said. "A case of the nerves, both at the plate and on the mound."
Reid said his teammates were anything but nervous. They played at the pool for much of Thursday, then skipped breakfast Friday morning to get an extra hour of sleep.
Before the game, they slid their hats on sideways and began talking "in their Mickey Mouse voices," McGuire said.
Reid, Gilcrease and Merrell all laughed and looked at Miller, signaling he was the main culprit. Miller didn't open his mouth.
"These guys are more nervous now than they were on the baseball field. I promise," McGuire said. His son hit third and went 1-for-2.
Morgan McGuire had said earlier this week that she didn't mind that her family followed her brother and father to South Williamsport, leaving her alone in Kalamazoo. They got to watch her, after all, three years ago when her softball team won the Senior League Softball World Series.
"I told them it's my brother's turn," she said. "I'm glad he's got a chance to experience it."
Posted in Top-stories on Thursday, August 14, 2008 11:00 pm | Tags: Holland, Williamsport, Canyon_lake, Little_league, World_series
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