Matamoros pitcher tosses perfect game at LLWS

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - An ice pack strapped around Jesus Sauceda's potent right shoulder slipped down into his jersey, interrupting a post-game interview.

It was about the only thing Sunday that went wrong for the 13-year-old ace pitcher for Matamoros, Mexico. Sauceda pitched the fifth perfect game in Little League World Series history and the first in 29 years when he struck out all 12 batters in a 12-0 win over Emilia, Italy.

The game went four innings instead of the usual six because of Little League's 10-run mercy rule.

"To be honest with you, I wasn't expecting this," Sauceda said through translator Sergio Guzman. He proudly displayed the ball that was the final pitch on a table.

"I was just going out there to throw."

Did he ever. Italian batters were overmatched and Sauceda starred at the plate, too, going 3-for-3 with six RBIs, including a grand slam in the third.

"The speed of that pitcher doesn't exist in Italy," Italian manager Andrea Bettati said, shaking his head.

In other early action Sunday, Trey Quinn tossed a no-hitter for Lake Charles, La., in a 9-0 shutout of Jeffersonville, Ind.; and Tokyo defeated White Rock, British Columbia, 9-3.

Sauceda got to three-ball counts only a couple of times, including the first batter of the fourth, pinch-hitter Matteo Lafranchi.

"I was starting to get nervous there," Sauceda said.

After several foul balls, Sauceda finally struck out Lafranchi with an off-speed pitch and Sauceda cruised from there.

Vocal fans, including 24 members of Sauceda's family, cheered and held up a large Mexican flag while Sauceda's teammates surrounded him and patted his head. Fans held up 12 placards with the letter "K" for each of his strikeouts.

Sauceda never dreamed about such a scene.

"I have dreamed of being a hero of one of the games, maybe winning the World Series eventually, but not such a great game all along," he said.

The last perfect game at the World Series was thrown by Taiwan's Chao-An Chen in 1979. Sauceda's gem also came 51 years after Angel Macias of Monterrey, Mexico, threw a perfect game to win the Little League World Series championship.

Later Sunday, Quinn starred on the mound for unbeaten Louisiana. Indiana was the victim of a no-hitter a day after one of their pitchers, Drew Ellis, threw a no-hitter and lost.

Quinn helped himself with his glove when a line drive hit him on the left wrist and bounced away before he recovered to throw out the runner.

"Ow! I was dizzy looking for the ball," Quinn said with a laugh.

Quinn's father and pitching coach, Dave Quinn, calls the team's pitches. Asked how proud he was of Trey, he lowered his head for several seconds to collect his thoughts. His voice cracked briefly as he said, "Proud of him.

"We just try to compete. It gets a little emotional sometimes when I see him competing like that. That's all I ask of him, just give me your best."

Japan 9, Canada 3

Takumi Ozeki struck out eight and had a two-run homer as Japan moved to 2-0 in pool play. Connor Kenwood drove in two runs with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth for winless Canada before the late rally fell through.

During the game, Little League used its new replay system for home runs or other close calls at the outfield fence to review a foul ball down the left-field line in the second inning.

After a pitch, the home plate umpire was called over as the replay was reviewed. Replays showed the ball clearly on the foul side of the foul pole, backing up the original call.

In this case, even if the replay had shown the ball was fair, the play would not have been overturned because a review needs to occur before the next pitch is thrown, Little League spokesman Lance Van Auken said.