Southeast team from Warner Robins beats Midwest in Little League World Series

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — With the Southeast in a win-or-be-eliminated position and one of the stars of the team not at 100 percent, the prospects were looking grim.

But the team from Warner Robins pulled off a victory over the Midwest team from South Dakota, with a 6-3 decision Saturday afternoon.

The Southeast got it started early with a three-run home run from first-baseman Jake Fromm in the first inning. Fromm, who has had back problems, drilled the ball over the wall at Lamade Stadium. Pitcher Logan Arnett, who got hit by a pitch on the helmet on the first pitch of the game and right fielder Trey Odom who walked, were both on base.

“I was still kind of amazed,” said Fromm of his home run.

He admitted he was about 60-70 percent with his injury. Each swing and even rounding the bases after his home run were painful.

“I’ll be honest, it hurts,” he said.

The scoring didn’t end there.

Shortstop Austin Burnette hit a grounder to left to lead off the top of the fifth. Odom struck out, but Logan Williams dropped a base hit over the shortstop’s glove. Fromm walked to load the bases. Joshua Goodman popped up, but center fielderLogan Morris hit the ball just fair down the third-base line to bring in two runs and stretch the Southeast’s lead to 6-0. Logan Fink flew out to left to end the inning.

In the third, Burnette scored on Fromm’s long fly ball, which was close to leaving of the park. Lee Fromm, his mother, turned around and put her fingers out as if to say, it was this close. After pulling up, Jake Fromm, obviously in pain, grabbed his back but was back at first base.

At one point on the mound, Arnett looked to have a foot problem, but it turned out to be a rock in his shoe. Arnett had five strikeouts in the game.

The Midwest tried to make it a game in the sixth. Hayden McGriff hit a shot to center for a double, scoring Justin Kraemer. Brett Beyer added a two run home-run to make it 6-3 with no outs. Fromm came on, however, to get the Southeast out of the game.

While Arnett was disappointed with not getting the shutout or complete game, manager Phillip Johnson was proud of the job he did.

“He did a masterful job,” Johnson said. “He rose to the occasion.”

Arnett said he and Fromm talked before the game about Fromm’s offense. Arnett said he thought Fromm would hit a home run, and his prediction turned out correct. Fromm was 1-for-3 with a walk and four RBI. Morris was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Neither team had an error, one thing Johnson stressed after the last game’s loss.

The Southeast will play at 4 p.m. on Monday on ESPN.

This story was originally published August 20, 2011 at 5:21 PM with the headline "Southeast team from Warner Robins beats Midwest in Little League World Series."