Little League Series: Vancouver Beats N.H.

W I L L I A M S P O R T, Pa. -- Call it “TJ” magic.

With their inspirational leader watching, Vancouver, Wash.,recorded the first triple-play in Little League World Serieshistory, and rallied from a 4-0 deficit.

“TJ,” the letters stitched into Vancouver’s hats, stands for Tyler Jacobs, a 6-year-old who underwent surgery in mid-June toremove a benign brain tumor. He has become the team’sinspirational leader.

Tyler was on hand — after a long cross-country flight — asVancouver rallied back for a 6-4, 7-inning win over Goffstown, N.H., today.

Likely to Compete in U.S. Pool Game

Dustin Corl completed the comeback with a two-run homer over theleft-center field wall.

Vancouver improved to 2-0 and all but mathematically clinched aberth in Thursday’s U.S. Pool championship game. Goffstown fell to0-3 but did manage to score its first runs of the Series.

The dramatics all began when Jay Ponciano hit a three-run homerto cut Goffstown’s lead to 4-3 in the fifth.

Then Vancouver made what is believed to be a first in Serieshistory in the top of the sixth.

With Goffstown runners at first and second, Ben Bradley groundedto Jackson Evans at third. Evans tagged out the lead runner, butoverthrew second base. Right fielder Jesse McLean threw home wherecatcher Dustin Corl tagged out Ben Collins.

Corl then threw to third where Evans completed the triple-play,tagging out Bradley.

Score it: 5-9-2-5.

First Triple Play Ever for Event

Although not all scorebooks have been kept throughout the years,a Series official said it’s believed to have been the first Tripleplay in the event’s 54-year history.

Vancouver then tied the game in the sixth as McLean scored onKorey Dunkel’s two-out grounder to third. Goffstown third basemanAlex Sobolov’s throw pulled McLean off the bag at first.

The win went to Dunham who allowed a run on two hits inthree-plus innings of relief. Corl finished with three hits, whilePonciano had two.