KUTNO, Poland — Stephen Braden and J.C. Babin each singled home two first-inning runs Saturday as the Ramstein All-Stars defeated the Netherlands 12-2 on the third day of Little League Baseball’s Transatlantic Regional tournament.
Ramstein (1-1) rebounded from a 12-1 loss to Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
“The kids are playing smoothly,” Ramstein coach Andre Murray said after his team’s morning romp on a sunny, breezy 80-degree day. “We had a challenge the first day, but they didn’t let it bother them.”
Tashawn Murray, who played second and third and pitched an inning, drove in three runs for Ramstein. Murray singled twice in four trips to the plate.
The Netherlands fell to 0-3 despite Taylor Broome having the best day of his life at the plate.
In his first two appearances Saturday, he hit solo home runs to account for all of his team’s runs despite a steady wind blowing in from left center. Broome, who went 2-for-2, was hit by a pitch in his final at-bat.
“I’ve never hit even one home run before,” Broome said, “only in practice.”
After the game, Broome, 12, was savoring the effect his blasts might have on his older brother, Michael, 14.
“This will show my brother,” Taylor Broome said. “He always thinks he’s better than I am.”
The Netherlands will try to break through for a victory Sunday against Italy.
London 13, Naples 2: The good news for Naples was it ended a nearly two-day scoring drought. The bad news was it still lost to unbeaten London.
After losing 20-0 to Saudi Arabia on Friday, Naples’ scoring drought continued until the sixth inning Saturday, even though the team didn’t record a hit. The runs came off three walks, a fielder’s choice grounder by Lucas Herweyer and a wild pitch.
“We’re going to take extra batting practice this afternoon,” Naples coach Jim Hall said, “and if that doesn’t work, I’m going to throw all the bats away and get new ones. I’ve done it before.”
Despite his team’s 1-2 record, Hall said his players are in good spirits.
“We think about these things [losses],” he said, gesturing to his coaching staff, “but the kids just think about their next chance to play.”
Saudi Arabia 12, Spain 0: Logan Vimont and Mark Lumpa combined for a no-hitter in a four-inning romp over Spain.
A walk issued by Vimont in the third spoiled the perfect game.
It could have been even worse for Spain (1-2). Right fielder Adrian Vargas made a sensational diving catch in the second to strand three Saudi runners and end an eight-run inning.
Left fielder Robert Wahlert stranded two more runners with another diving catch to limit Saudi Arabia to two runs in the fourth.
Saudi Arabia (3-0) has outscored its opponents 44-1.
“Our kids are hitting the ball pretty well,” Saudi coach Tommy Bumstead said.
Saudi Arabia will enjoy an off day on Sunday, and will face the only other unbeaten team in the tournament, London, on Monday.
The top four teams in the round robin advance to Thursday’s semifinals.
The winners will then battle in Friday’s championship game with a berth in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. on the line.
