Trouble struck immediately for Coon Rapids-Andover on Sunday at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa.
Coon Rapids-Andover falls in second game of Little League World Series
No-hitter sinks Minnesota team, but Maddy Freking becomes the sixth girl to pitch in the World Series
By NEWS SERVICES
Coon Rapids-Andover was stopped entirely from striking back.
South Riding, Va., pitched its second consecutive no-hitter, this one by Justin Lee alone, and defeated Coon Rapids-Andover 11-0 in the winners' bracket. The game was ended after four innings because South Riding led by more than 10 runs.
Coon Rapids-Andover, 1-1 in the tournament and representing the Midwest, fell into the losers' bracket and will play an elimination game at 7 p.m. Monday.
South Riding, representing the Southeast, scored three runs in the first inning on a bases-loaded double and needed no more. Liam Thyen had five RBI in the game and Colton Hicks three. South Riding had nine hits, seven different players contributing.
Lee, who also pitched when three South Riding pitchers combined on a no-hitter in the first round, struck out six.
Coon Rapids-Andover's Maddy Freking, already only the 19th girl to play in the Little League World Series, became the sixth girl to pitch, the first since Mo'ne Davis five years ago. She pitched an inning in relief, striking out one and making a strong defensive play, fielding a ball near the third-base line and throwing home from her knees for an out.
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, there for the Pirates' game against the Chicago Cubs that was part of Sunday's festivities, was impressed by her pitching — and her ponytail.
"The last time I saw that much blonde hair throwing that hard, it was Syndergaard," he said on ESPN, invoking the name of Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets pitcher known for his hair and his fastball.
about the writer
NEWS SERVICES
Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.