The Kaiserslautern Military Community All-Stars romped into the semifinals of Little League Baseball’s European Regional Tournament at Kutno, Poland, with a 10-0, run-rule quarterfinal victory Wednesday over Lithuania.
Justin Wilson and Tyler Woodberry hit back-to-back home runs to propel the All-Stars, according to KMC coach Eric Vincent, who said starting pitcher Woodberry and reliever Jerry Van Sickle combined to limit Lithuania to one hit in the four innings the game lasted.
Wilson’s homer came with two runners on and was his fourth of the tournament. Woodberry followed with his ninth homer of the tournament to help the All-Stars, the 11-12-year-old champions of Germany, improve to 6-0 and remain the only unbeaten team in the regional. It was KMC’s third shutout and fourth victory by 10 runs or more in six outings.
Lithuania threatened in the third inning, Vincent said, loading the bases on a single, walk and error. But the Stars turned a double play to end the threat.
Next up for KMC, which is bidding to return to the Aug. 16-26 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., for the first time since 2010, is Thursday’s 11 a.m. semifinal game against the winner of Wednesday’s late quarterfinal game between Belarus and Ukraine. KMC downed Ukraine 13-0 in pool play last Saturday.
In Thursday’s other semifinal, the Netherlands, the defending European champion which downed the U.K. on Wednesday, will take on the winner between Italy and the Czech Republic. Thursday’s winners are to clash at 3 p.m. Friday for the right to go to Williamsport.