Gilroy All-Stars face the South in World Series Opener
At last year’s Little League Softball World Series, there was something about the South.
In the 2005 World Series opener, Gilroy and eventual World Series champion and South representative McLean, Va. battled to an extra-inning 12-11 finish.
Unfortunately, the Garlic All-Stars were on the losing end. But West representative Gilroy gets a chance to right history when it opens the World Series once again with the South today at 5pm at Alpenrose Field in Portland, Ore.
This year’s South team is Morristown, Tenn., which defeated Cape Coral (Fla.) 3-1 in the South Regional championship game to reach the World Series. Like Gilroy, the Tennessee team also dropped a game during regional play.
For Morristown, look out for 11-year-old ace pitcher Mallory Black, who had eight strikeouts in the South Regional championship and 32 total for the tournament, and power hitter Kendi King, who batted .500 and earned two wins in the circle during regional play.
Gilroy will also face Asia Pacific (Friday 5pm), Europe (Saturday, 10am) and Central (Monday, 1pm) in Pool B play. The Southwest, host Oregon District 4, Canada, Latin America and the East make up Pool A.
Outside of Oregon District 4 representative Cedar Mill, which participates every year because it is the host team, Gilroy and Latin America team Soraida Juliana out of Curacao are the only two teams making their second consecutive World Series appearances.
Gilroy’s World Series Schedule
@ Alpenrose Dairy, Portland, Ore.
Pool Play
vs South, today, 5pm
vs Asia Pacific, Friday, 5pm
vs Europe, Saturday, 10am
vs Central, Monday, 1pm
Playoffs (if team finishes top two in pool play). Semifinals, Tuesday, Aug. 15 (ESPN2). Championship, third and fifth place games, Wednesday, Aug. 16 (Championship on ESPN2)
Listen Live on the Web! Full-Access Sports will be giving live web casts of every game. Listen to every play Gilroy makes by clicking on the link at www.softballworldseries.com
