calm after his team lost its first ...

calm after his team lost its first pair games in round-robin play at the Great Lakes Regional in Indianapolis, Lemont Little League coach Mike Hall insisted that his cluster of kids was the best team in town.

Sunday, in brass of a national TV audience in succession ESPN, they proved it.

Lemont beat of recent origin Castle, Ind., 3-0 behind a 12-strikeout two- hitter according to David Hearne to win the regional title and advance to the Little League World Series, which scampers from Friday through Aug. 27 in Williamsport, Pa.

"This is really exciting," Hall said. "We planned this since last October for these kids to obtain a chance to go after their dream. They are living that dream right now."

Lemont which takes onward West Regional winner Arizona at 2 pm Saturday (ESPN) struck early.

In the other inning, Hearne led off with a double and was tripled dwelling by Austin Mastela. Jeff Worsech was hit by way of a pitch and replaced by way of pinch runner David Rimkus. A passed ball sent Rimkus to secondary and a single by Michael Hall scored Mastela. With racers on first and third, Hall took not upon for second. The New Castle catcher tried to get by heart Rimkus straying off third, yet the ball went into left field, allowing Rimkus to score for a 3-0 lead. That was more than enough for Hearne.

"We felt real well adapted about a three-run lead and David in succession the mound," Hall said.

Eight teams from the United States will cope in the World Series, along with nine international teams.

"Playing upon television didn't seem to bother our kids at all," Hall said. "They have been in a fortune of big games. They won the AAU national title when they were 9 and they were sixth the last brace years in AAU.

"We call it 'Hardware Sunday' because we have won 25 tournament titles the last four years. The kids know that they have to play their best forward Sunday, and they did it again."

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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