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Page 2B SPORTS East Oregonian Wednesday, August 23, 2017 Little League Baseball North Carolina pitchers blowing away the competition at LLWS By JACK DOUGHERTY Associated Press SOUTH WILLIAMS- PORT, Pa. — At the Little League World Series, the question now is not whether anyone can beat the team from Greenville, North Carolina. It’s whether anyone can get a hit. Neither Sioux Falls, South Dakota, nor Rancho Santa Margarita, California, was able to do so against Greenville’s pitching staff in the first two rounds. It’s the first time at Little League World Series that a U.S. team has thrown consecutive no-hitters. Japan did it in 2002. Greenville used three pitchers in its 6-0 first round win Friday against Sioux Falls. Chase Anderson, Matthew Matthijs and Carson Hardee combined for 10 strikeouts and no walks to complete the seventh perfect game in LLWS history. Two days later, Greenville walloped Rancho Santa Margarita 16-0 in five innings — the game was halted because of the mercy rule. Anderson and the 6-foot-1 Matthijs dominated again, and the Southeast bats AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar Greenville, N.C. pitcher Chase Anderson delivers in the first inning of a game against Sioux Falls, S.D., in United States pool play at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Friday, Aug. 18, 2017. produced 18 hits and two home runs. It wasn’t just the top of the order, either. Twelve of the 13 Greenville players recorded at least one hit and nine had at least one RBI. “They’re unbelievable,” Rancho Santa Margarita manager C.J. Ankrum said. “One through nine and even their pinch hitters, they got in the batter’s box and they wanted to hit. You got to tip your cap to them. They did a great job.” Leading the charge offen- sively have been Hardee and Thomas Barrett. Barrett has gone 5-for-6 and scored three runs in the tournament while Hardee cracked a grand slam in Greenville’s second game and totaled five RBIs. What’s more, Greenville has been flawless in the field, too. The team hasn’t made an error through two games and Hardee made a diving snare at shortstop against Rancho Santa Margarita that’s been one of the plays of the tour- nament. “Right now it’s just crazy that we’re in it,” Hardee said. “It feels so different when you’re here than when you’re watching it on TV. Not a lot of people get to do this, so I understand how lucky this team is to be here, but I don’t think it’s going to hit until we get back to Greenville.” Anderson and Matthijs were able to pitch in the first two games because Greenville can keep pitch counts low — Little League requires at least one rest day, and as many as four, once a player has thrown more than 21 pitches in a day. All of Greenville’s pitchers will be available to throw in Wednesday’s game against Lufkin, Texas. Greenville’s accomplish- ment is all the more remark- able given its back story. Last October, Hurricane Matthew tore through the Southeast, including the Greenville area. The home of Cash Daniels-Moye, a starting outfielder, was damaged so badly by the wind and rain he had to stay in a hotel. The community responded by hosting a two-day baseball tournament to raise money for his family. Another Greenville family was also hit by the storm. Greenville Little League raised more than $20,000, and about half was donated to the two families. Greenville is out in force at South Williamsport. Bright yellow, the team’s color, fills Howard J. Lamade Stadium whenever the Southeast is on the field, and the parents and supporters from Greenville have been among the biggest and loudest crowds. “I can’t tell you how much Greenville and the surrounding community and now the state, have been behind us really since the state tournament,” manager Brian Fields said. “They were loud. They were like the 10th man out there and we’re going to need these folks.” Greenville’s game against Lufkin on Wednesday is a semifinal in the U.S. bracket, featuring the last two unbeaten American teams. The winner will play the survivor of the loser’s bracket for a berth in the tournament championship against the international representative. “Those guys from Texas are good,” Anderson said. “We’re going to have to compete with them, and I don’t think we’ll be nervous at all.” BRIEFLY Klamath Falls golfer leads Northwest Open WALLA WALLA — Klamath Falls native Justin Wiles sits atop the leaderboard at the Northwest Open Invitational after 36 holes of play. He snuck out of a four-way tie for second place on Tuesday despite adding a stroke to his tournament total. He opened the week shooting 6-under 66 and was joined by Washington PGA Professionals Brian Thornton, Shane Prante, and Time Feenstra. Wiles second-round scorecard was almost identical to his first, as he collected seven birdies and only two bogeys. He made the turn at the Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington 4-under 32. Wiles then carded back-to-back birdies on the par-3 14th hole and the par-5 15th, but fell into some trouble on the medium-length par-3 16th hole and the par-4 17th. He signed his scorecard after rebounding with a birdie on 18 and is now in contention for his first professional win. Only one golfer recorded a lower score in the second round. Liam Kendregan of Kirkland, Washinton earned a new career low round after shooting 6-under 66. Berg, Feenstra, and Prante remain tied for second place at 9-under 135. Pendleton High alum and current Whitworth University golfer Reilly Hegarty was tied for second in the round Tuesday shooting a 5-under 67. But after a first round of 5-over 77, Hegarty sits in a seven-way tie for 42nd place in the overall leaderboard. Pendleton Country Club pro Tyler Brooks shot a 4-over 76 to follow up his even-par 72 and sits tied for 73rd overall. The final round will begin at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday with a split-tee start. Tee-off for Campus Life UMATILLA — There are still some openings for the Campus Life Golf Tournament. The two-person scramble format is Saturday at Big River Golf Course, Umatilla. The cost is $50 per person and the fee includes green fees, lunch, prizes and a raffle. Last year’s inaugural event raised $10,000 for Campus Life. The faith-based organization supports local youths. For more information or to register, contact info@ campuslifegolf.com or visit www. campuslifegolf.com. To reserve a cart, contact Megan Olsen at 541-922-3006 or megan@ golfbigriver.com. Walla Walla ends LLWS run AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar Walla Walla, Wash.’s Caiden Thomsen (7) celebrates with team- mates as he returns to the dugout after hitting a solo-home run during the fifth inning of an elimination baseball game against Fairfield, Conn., in United States pool play at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., Monday. Walla Walla won just one game of the three it played, but represented the state and the region well in the league’s first LLWS trip ever. BLOCKBUSTER: Celtics finally get superstar in Irving, Cavs set up for future Continued from 1B “Of course we know who our competition is, and we know who are biggest threats are each year,” Ainge said. “But we feel like this is a trade that can make us better, and that’s why we did it.” The blockbuster deal caps a wild summer for the Cavs, who lost their title defense in five games to Golden State in June. Since then, general manager David Griffin left, the team failed to convince Chauncey Billups to join its front office and James has played with fans’ emotions with veiled postings on social media about his future. Irving’s trade demand cast a shadow over the entire organization. But Cleveland may have salvaged its offseason. “This trade needed to include both players and assets that we felt strongly could help us continue to compete for championships and we believe it does,” said new general manager Koby Altman, who pulled off a deal that protects Cleve- land’s present and future. In Thomas, they’re getting a proven playmaker with a stellar reputation. The 5-foot-9 guard is one of the league’s most dynamic backcourt players with an uncanny ability to get to the basket. Irving may be the only better finisher among point guards. The 28-year-old Thomas was taken with the final selection in the 2011 draft — 59 picks after Irving was picked first overall. But he has steadily scaled his way up to elite status. Thomas’ reputation in Boston was cemented when he led the Celtics through the playoffs last season despite the death of his sister on the eve of the postseason. He also had a front tooth knocked out during the second-round series against Washington and a hip injury eventually forced the team to shut him down early in the East finals, won by the Cavaliers in five games. “Isaiah had just an amazing season this year and entertained us all, the whole city of Boston. And everybody fell in love with him,” Ainge said. “He’s such an underdog because of his size and his heart and his spirit which he plays.” Thomas is eligible for free agency next summer and believes he is worthy of a maximum contract. He has been quoted saying, “They better bring out the Brinks truck.” Cleveland also is getting Crowder, a solid perimeter defender, and a first-round pick that Boston got from Brooklyn. The package could help the Cavs reload if James opts out of his contract next summer and leaves Cleveland for a second time. The Cavs drafted Irving with the No. 1 overall pick in 2011. He struggled in his first few seasons but blos- somed in recent years along- side James. However, that didn’t seem to be enough for the 25-year-old, who has wanted to be the focal point on his own team. Asked about trading a fan favorite who rose from the depths of the draft for a player who asked out of a team with the NBA’s best player, one year removed from a championship, Ainge said he has done his home- work. “We feel comfortable with who Kyrie is and who he can be,” he said. Minnesota showed some interest in Irving after his trade request became public, but were unwilling to part with young star Andrew Wiggins as the centerpiece of a deal. Wiggins is expected to sign a max contract exten- sion in the coming weeks to stay with the Timberwolves. The Phoenix Suns report- edly were not interested in parting with rookie Josh Jackson in a deal that also would have required Eric Bledsoe and the New York Knicks gave no indication that Kristaps Porzingis was ever on the table in a poten- tial Irving trade. Then the Celtics swooped in, landing the kind of star Ainge has long coveted. With the possibility of having to break the bank to retain Thomas next summer, Boston finally tapped into the treasure trove of assets that Ainge has assembled to get Irving, who is under contract for two more years. Irving got his wish to get away from James, but he’s not free of him yet. SCOREBOARD Local slate VOLLEYBALL Thursday Condon/Wheeler at Echo, 10 a.m. Heppner vs. Condon/Wheeler (at Echo), 11:30 a.m. Heppner at Echo, 2 p.m. Umatilla at Helix, 2:30 p.m. Ione at Helix, 4 p.m. Ione vs. Umatilla (at Ione), 5:30 p.m. Waitsburg (WA) at Riverside, 6 p.m. Imbler at Weston-McEwen, 6 p.m. Dufur at Weston-McEwen, 7 p.m. Friday Ione at Country Christian (1A Preview), 8 a.m. Ione vs. Trinity Lutheran (1A Preview), 11 a.m. Umatilla at Irrigon, 1 p.m. Ione vs. North Douglas (1A Preview), 2 p.m. Condon/Wheeler vs. Umatilla (at Irrigon), 2:30 p.m. Condon/Wheeler at Irrigon, 4 p.m. Saturday Hermiston at La Grande, 8 a.m. Pendleton at Lewiston (ID) Tournament, 8 a.m. Weston-McEwen at Grant Union Tourna- ment, 8 a.m. Irrigon at Stanfield, 10 a.m. Echo vs. Enterprise (at Stanfield), 10 a.m. Ione vs. Hosanna Christian (1A Preview), 10 a.m. Ione vs. Willamette Valley Christian (1A Preview), 5 p.m. BOYS SOCCER Thursday Umatilla at Hermiston, 6 p.m. GIRLS SOCCER Thursday Umatilla at Hermiston, 4 p.m. Baseball MLB AMERICAN LEAGUE East Division W L Boston 72 53 New York 67 57 Tampa Bay 62 65 Baltimore 61 65 Toronto 59 66 Pct GB .576 — .540 4½ .488 11 .484 11½ .472 13 Central Division W L Pct GB Cleveland 69 55 .556 — Minnesota 65 60 .520 4½ Kansas City 63 61 .508 6 Detroit 54 70 .435 15 Chicago 48 76 .387 21 West Division W L Pct GB Houston 76 49 .608 — Los Angeles 64 61 .512 12 Seattle 64 63 .504 13 Texas 62 62 .500 13½ Oakland 55 71 .437 21½ ———— Tuesday’s Games Oakland 6, Baltimore 4 Boston 9, Cleveland 1 N.Y. Yankees 13, Detroit 4 Tampa Bay 6, Toronto 5 Atlanta 4, Seattle 0 Minnesota 4, Chicago White Sox 1 Washington 4, Houston 3 Kansas City 3, Colorado 2 Texas at L.A. Angels, late finish Wednesday’s Games Oakland (Manaea 8-8) at Baltimore (Bun- dy 12-8), 12:05 p.m. Boston (Pomeranz 12-4) at Cleveland (Kluber 12-3), 4:10 p.m. N.Y. Yankees (Severino 10-5) at Detroit (Zimmermann 7-10), 4:10 p.m. Toronto (Stroman 11-6) at Tampa Bay (Pruitt 6-4), 4:10 p.m. Seattle (Ramirez 5-4) at Atlanta (Dickey 8-8), 4:35 p.m. Minnesota (Santana 13-7) at Chicago White Sox (Shields 2-4), 5:10 p.m. Washington (Jackson 4-2) at Houston (Fiers 7-8), 5:10 p.m. Colorado (Senzatela 10-4) at Kansas City (Kennedy 4-9), 5:15 p.m. Texas (Cashner 7-9) at L.A. Angels (He- aney 0-0), 7:07 p.m. NATIONAL LEAGUE East Division W Washington 75 Miami 62 Atlanta 56 New York 54 Philadelphia 45 Central Division W Chicago 67 Milwaukee 65 St. Louis 63 Pittsburgh 60 Cincinnati 53 L 48 62 68 70 79 Pct .610 .500 .452 .435 .363 GB — 13½ 19½ 21½ 30½ L 57 61 62 66 73 Pct GB .540 — .516 3 .504 4½ .476 8 .421 15 West Division W L Pct GB Los Angeles 89 35 .718 — Arizona 69 57 .548 21 Colorado 68 57 .544 21½ San Diego 56 69 .448 33½ San Francisco 51 76 .402 39½ ———— Tuesday’s Games Miami 12, Philadelphia 8, 1st game L.A. Dodgers 8, Pittsburgh 5 Arizona 7, N.Y. Mets 4 Chicago Cubs 13, Cincinnati 9 Atlanta 4, Seattle 0 Miami 7, Philadelphia 4, 2nd game Washington 4, Houston 3 Kansas City 3, Colorado 2 San Diego 12, St. Louis 4 Milwaukee at San Francisco, late finish Wednesday’s Games Milwaukee (Garza 6-7) at San Francisco (Moore 4-12), 12:45 p.m. L.A. Dodgers (Hill 9-4) at Pittsburgh (Williams 5-6), 4:05 p.m. Miami (Nicolino 2-1) at Philadelphia (Eflin 1-5), 4:05 p.m. Arizona (Godley 5-6) at N.Y. Mets (Flexen 2-2), 4:10 p.m. Chicago Cubs (Montgomery 3-6) at Cin- cinnati (Wojciechowski 3-2), 4:10 p.m. Seattle (Ramirez 5-4) at Atlanta (Dickey 8-8), 4:35 p.m. Washington (Jackson 4-2) at Houston (Fiers 7-8), 5:10 p.m. Colorado (Senzatela 10-4) at Kansas City (Kennedy 4-9), 5:15 p.m. San Diego (Chacin 11-8) at St. Louis (Weaver 1-1), 5:15 p.m. MiLB NORTHWEST LEAGUE North Division W L Pct GB Tri-City 15 11 .577 — x-Vancouver 15 11 .577 — Spokane 14 12 .538 1 Everett 13 13 .500 2 South Division W L Pct GB x-Hillsboro 13 13 .500 — Boise 12 14 .462 1 Salem-Keizer 11 15 .423 2 Eugene 11 15 .423 2 x-first-half champions ———— Tuesday’s Games Hillsboro at Salem-Keizer, late finish Boise at Eugene, late finish Everett at Vancouver, late finish Spokane at Tri-City, late finish Wednesday’s Games Tri-City at Spokane, 6:30 p.m. Boise at Hillsboro, 7:05 p.m. Salem-Keizer at Eugene, 7:05 p.m. Vancouver at Everett, 7:05 p.m. LITTLE LEAGUE World Series At South Williamsport, Pa. All Games Broadcast on ESPN Tuesday’s Games Game B: Sydney vs. Sioux Falls (S.D.), 8 a.m. Game 21: Tamaulipas (Mexico) vs. Mara- caibo (Venezuela), Noon Game 22: Jackson (N.J.) vs. Game 20 winner, 4:30 p.m. Wednesday’s Games Game 23: White Rock (British Columbia) vs. Tokyo, Noon Game 24: Lufkin (Texas) vs. Greenville (N.C.), 4:30 p.m. Soccer MLS Wednesday’s Games Atlanta United FC at D.C. United, 4:30 p.m. Los Angeles at Columbus, 4:30 p.m. Houston at FC Dallas, 5 p.m. Philadelphia at Toronto FC, 5 p.m. San Jose at Real Salt Lake, 7 p.m. Seattle at Vancouver, 7 p.m. Colorado at Portland, 7:30 p.m. Friday’s Game New York City FC at New York, 4 p.m. Saturday’s Games Atlanta United FC at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. New England at D.C. United, 4 p.m. FC Dallas at Columbus, 4:30 p.m. Vancouver at Orlando City, 4:30 p.m. Minnesota United at Chicago, 5:30 p.m. Sporting Kansas City at Houston, 6 p.m. Colorado at Real Salt Lake, 7 p.m. Sunday’s Games Toronto FC at Montreal, 1:30 p.m. San Jose at Los Angeles, 4 p.m. Portland at Seattle, 6:30 p.m. Football NFL Preseason Thursday’s Games Miami at Philadelphia, 4 p.m. Carolina at Jacksonville, 4:30 p.m. Friday’s Games New England at Detroit, 4 p.m. Kansas City at Seattle, 5 p.m. Saturday’s Games Buffalo at Baltimore, 4 p.m. Arizona at Atlanta, 4 p.m. N.Y. Jets at N.Y. Giants, 4 p.m. Cleveland at Tampa Bay, 4:30 p.m. Indianapolis at Pittsburgh, 4:30 p.m. Houston at New Orleans, 5 p.m. L.A. Chargers at L.A. Rams, 5 p.m. Oakland at Dallas, 5 p.m. Green Bay at Denver, 6 p.m. Sunday’s Games Chicago at Tennessee, 1 p.m. Cincinnati at Washington, 4:30 p.m. San Francisco at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Basketball WNBA EASTERN CONFERENCE W L Pct GB x-Connecticut 19 10 .655 — x-New York 17 12 .586 2 x-Washington 17 12 .586 2 Chicago 11 18 .379 8 Atlanta 10 20 .333 9½ Indiana 9 21 .300 10½ WESTERN CONFERENCE W L Pct GB x-Minnesota 23 6 .793 — x-Los Angeles 21 8 .724 2 Phoenix 15 15 .500 8½ Dallas 14 16 .467 9½ Seattle 14 16 .467 9½ San Antonio 7 23 .233 16½ x-clinched playoff spot ——— Tuesday’s Games Minnesota 105, Phoenix 69 San Antonio at Los Angeles, late finish Wednesday’s Games New York at Indiana, 4 p.m. Dallas at Connecticut, 4 p.m. Seattle at Atlanta, 4 p.m. Golf PGA Tour FedEx Cup Standings Through Aug. 20 Points Money 1. Hideki Matsuyama 2,869 $8,123,407 2. Justin Thomas 2,689 $7,094,741 3. Jordan Spieth 2,671 $6,980,845 4. Dustin Johnson 2,466 $6,817,068 5. Rickie Fowler 6. Jon Rahm 7. Brooks Koepka 8. Daniel Berger 9. Kevin Kisner 10. Brian Harman 16. Brendan Steele 17. Kyle Stanley 18. Paul Casey 19. Russell Henley 20. Jason Dufner 1,832 1,754 1,736 1,623 1,612 1,557 1,226 1,204 1,135 1,129 1,126 $4,909,472 $4,618,248 $5,001,271 $3,978,974 $4,197,078 $4,191,108 $2,858,620 $3,076,037 $2,776,724 $2,776,307 $3,010,741 Upcoming Schedule THE NORTHERN TRUST Site: Old Westbury, N.Y. Course: Glen Oaks Club. Yardage: 7,346. Par: 70. Purse: $8.75 million (First prize: $1,575,000). Television: Thursday-Friday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday, 10-11:30 p.m. (Golf Channel); 12-3 p.m. (CBS); Sunday, 9-10:30 a.m. (Golf Channel), 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. (CBS). Defending champion: Patrick Reed. LPGA Money Leaders Through Aug. 6 Events 1. So Yeon Ryu 15 2. Sung Hyun Park 16 3. Lexi Thompson 15 4. In-Kyung Kim 13 5. Brooke M. Henderson 20 6. Mi Jung Hur 17 7. Sei Young Kim 17 8. Ariya Jutanugarn 19 9. Amy Yang 16 10. Cristie Kerr 16 11. Danielle Kang 17 12. Michelle Wie 17 13. In Gee Chun 16 14. Inbee Park 15 15. Moriya Jutanugarn 20 Money $1,733,086 $1,541,115 $1,337,783 $1,085,893 $1,038,689 $996,906 $995,405 $979,161 $878,836 $862,417 $806,828 $794,230 $791,109 $755,651 $735,677 Upcoming schedule CANADIAN PACIFIC WOMEN’S OPEN Site: Ottawa, Ontario. Course: Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club. Yardage: 6,419. Par: 71. Purse: $2.25 million (First prize: $337,500). Television: Thursday-Friday, 7:30-10:30 a.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 12-3 p.m. (Golf Channel). Defending champion: Ariya Jutanugarn