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Billings wins close one; Mexico tops Venezuela
Montana’s Ben Askelson (15) is greeted by teammates after hitting a home run Wednesday.
AP PHOTO
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT — Ben Askelson hit a high 0-1 fastball onto the hill beyond the left-field fence to send the boys from Billings, Mont., into the U.S. final of the Little League World Series with a 1-0, seven-inning victory over Huntington Beach, Calif., on Wednesday night.
Montana gets to rest up until the U.S. championship game Saturday, while California must face Clinton County, Pa., tonight.
Both teams had chances to prevent the game from going into extra innings. California couldn’t break through after loading the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth.
The early game was close, too, with Mexico beating Venezuela 2-1 to advance to the international final.
Bruno Ruiz’s ninth-inning homer was the difference.
Ruiz’s homer to center off a 2-0 pitch in the ninth broke a pitcher’s duel.