EASLEY (DA) — Curaçao’s Pabao Little League, representing the Caribbean Region, stayed alive at the Senior League Baseball World Series with a 7-0 victory over Australia on Wednesday.
Helmir Helmij allowed one hit over three scoreless innings to earn the win. He struck out four and walked one before Zaid Martinus, Jaylliard Emperador and Dave-Jay Rijke completed the two-hit shutout.
The four Curaçao pitchers combined for nine strikeouts and one walk over seven innings. Australia did not record a hit after the fourth.
Pabao scored once in each of the first two innings before breaking open the elimination game with five runs in the sixth.
Daniel Perez Spitaleri, Jay-Dlynn Wiel, Joshua Acosta Fernandez and Tamir Mogen each collected two hits. Perez Spitaleri doubled, drove in a run and scored, while Acosta Fernandez crossed the plate twice. Mogen and Kyshore Hinkel also had RBIs.
The Curaçao team finished with 10 hits and five walks. The victory followed a 3-1 loss to Canada in Pabao’s tournament opener.
Pabao will face Asia-Pacific Region representative Tanauan Little League of the Philippines on Thursday at 9 a.m. at the J.B. “Red” Owens Sports Complex. The winner will advance to meet Canada later Thursday.
Pabao earned the Caribbean berth by going 5-0 in the regional tournament in Willemstad, capped by a 5-3 championship-game victory over Puerto Rico.