BANGOR — The West University Little League All-Stars were able to rely on the big hit en route to winning the 2009 Senior League World Series.
Despite having 10 of those players back this summer, the Houston, Texas, team hopes to use a different baseball formula to gain the same level of championship success upon their return to Mansfield Stadium.
“We may have 10 guys that were on the team last year, but we don’t have 10 guys that were out there every day playing and contributing,” said manager Trey Cornelius after his team edged Lazio, Italy, 3-1, during Sunday’s opening round of this year’s SLWS pool play.
“It’s a different team. We’ve got pitching this year, but not so much hitting. [Last year’s star] Michael Resnick isn’t here to hit it off the water slide anymore.”
Chris Lanham, one of the newcomers on the West University roster, was the difference maker in a tight battle with the Europe-Middle East-Africa champion.
The righthander struck out nine, walked just one and scattered four hits in 6ª innings before reaching the 95-pitch limit.
John Streitman came on to retire the only batter he faced to earn the save.
“I take pride in being able to throw strikes on every pitch, so I’d like to think that’s normal,” said Lanham of his control. “I thought the curve was working really well today. I didn’t hesitate to throw that at all.”
Lanham needed to be at his best, because the U.S. Southwest champions struggled offensively against Italian starter Edoardo Ferranti, who struck out seven of the first nine batters he faced and didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning.
“[Ferranti] was spotting his fastball really well, and he would bring his curveball in after that,” said Lanham. “We never could guess what was coming. Often times it was wrong and we’d end up looking silly.”
But West University caught a break to score all its runs in the top of the fourth.
The Texans had runners on first and second with two outs when Sam Reid flared a soft liner that Italian second baseman Fabrizio Brignone lost in the setting sun.
Instead of the third out, the play delivered the game’s first run, and Lanham followed with a two-run double to give his team a 3-0 lead.
Italy scored its only run in the sixth. Brignone reached on an infield single, stole second and reached third on a wild pitch before scoring on Alessandro Grimaudo’s groundout.
“I was pleased with our effort as a team,” said Cornelius. “We got one big break, one lucky break, and we took advantage of it.
“One break and excellent pitching will win you a lot of ballgames. We were lucky to get that break, and then Chris just did what he’s been doing all summer.”
U.S. Southwest (1-0) 000 300 0 — 3 6 0
EMEA (0-1) 000 001 0 —1 4 0
Lanham, Streitman (7) and Dunlap; Ferranti, Cozzolino (5) and Trinci, Grimaudo (5); WP-Lanham (1-0); LP-Ferranti (0-1); Save-Streitman (1); Repeat hitters: none; Extra-base hits: 2B: Lanham (SW); Grimando (EMEA); 3B: Waters (SW)
