Palmview, TX used a six-run sixth inning to bust open a close game, beating Bay County, MI, 9-1, opening night at the DICK’S Sporting Goods PONY League World Series. Bay County took a 1-0 lead on LJ Hartman’s solo home run in the first, the 1,400th home run in the 71-year history of the tournament. Palmview tied the game in the third on Alexis Lopez’ sacrifice fly and took the lead later in the inning on an RBI double off the bat of Javier Garza. Lopez and Garza would add RBI later in the game with Rolando Solis driving in a pair. Palmview will take on Edogawa, Japan Saturday afternoon. Bay County drops into the elimination bracket on Sunday.
Youngstown, OH took advantage of eight walks, a pair of hit batters and a couple clutch hits to build a 7-0 lead, then held off a late rally, beating Covina, CA, 8-6. Jayden struck out a dozen batters, eight in a row at one point, and drove in four runs to get the win. Amos singled in a pair in the third, then doubled in two more runs an inning later. Covina scored twice off the starter in the fifth, then two more off Layne Rider in the frame. The Californians plated a pair of runs in the seventh, one on Omar Arretche’s solo home run but couldn’t pull even. Youngstown is off until Monday night’s winners bracket. Covina takes on Bay County in the tournament’s first elimination game.