SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Southwest pitcher Ethan Hines was too much for the Southeast offense, which was shut down 2-0 on Thursday night in the final game of the first day of the Little League World Series.
Hines, who nearly pitched a complete game, struck out six in the win. Haden Erbe came on with no outs in the sixth to throw eight pitches in relief.
Southeast manager Phillip Johnson said the difference in the game was the pitching.
“He was very effective,” Johnson said of Hines.
This is the first loss for the team from Warner Robins throughout the all-star season, which started in July. The loss in the double-elimination tournament has the Southeast playing its next game at 3 p.m. Saturday against the Midwest, which lost 6-4 to the Northeast.
Jake Fromm was playing injured, or else he would have pitched the game. Johnson said he was not sure what happened, but in batting practice, Fromm told the coaches his back was hurting.
“He’s struggling,” Johnson said.
Fromm started at shortstop, moved to third base and finally went to first by the end of the night.
The Southeast had seven hits to the Southwest’s six but couldn’t get a runner across the plate. Leadoff hitter Logan Arnett had three of those hits.
The comeback kids, however, couldn’t make a go of it in the sixth, as they had in the past, against the strong defense of the Southwest. With bases loaded and no outs, the Southeast offense wasn’t able to dent the scoreboard.
Jacob Giles led off with a single before Josh Goodman singled to left and Austin Burnette singled to shallow center. With no outs, Logan Morris came to the plate, but he flew out to right. Logan Fink then struck out, and Dillon Toms grounded out to the pitcher to end the game.
Even Johnson was impressed by the fielding by the Southwest team.
“A couple of those outfield catches were incredible,” he said.
Giles went 50 pitches on the mound, striking out four, and Trey Odom came into the game to strike out four more.
The scoring for the Southwest started in the third with Tyler Miller scoring on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Fruge. In the fourth, Erbe scored the second run on a wild pitch.
The Southeast had a chance in the third inning with Arnett leading off with a single. Fromm hit a long ball to right field, but it was just short of going over the wall, and he came off the field limping.
Arnett stole second, and Odom singled to center to move Arnett to third. But Giles popped out, and Jordan Hampton grounded to third to end the threat.
“It just wasn’t our night,” Johnson said.
Follow Telegraph reporter Angela Woolen in Williamsport, Pa., on Twitter, @warnerrobins.
