Port Neches Three still hanging around

Published 11:32 pm Thursday, July 6, 2017

NEDERLAND — After two days, Port Neches is five for six in Little League sectionals.

The PN Majors team responded from a tough loss to North Shore in Wednesday’s Section 2 tournament opener to rout Orwall American 14-5 in Thursday’s elimination game.

Meanwhile, Port Neches’ 10- and 11-year-old teams are just a win each away from going to the Texas East state tournament. In Beaumont, the 10-year-olds turned their game against Orwall American around with a seven-run second inning and marched to an 18-10 victory to make it to Saturday’s title game at Beaumont’ West End Little League at 7 p.m. Layden Williams smashed a home run in Thursday’s win.

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At North Shore in Houston, Port Neches beat West End 16-6 in five innings and will play at 7 p.m. Saturday for the championship. If a second game is necessary in the 10- and 11-year-old finals, it will be played Monday.

The PN Majors, or 12-year-olds, will need to win three more times to advance to state.

Two home runs in the third inning put Port Neches past Orwall American for good after trailing 2-1. Cole Crippen hit a solo shot on the first pitch of the inning to tie the game, and following an Omar Martinez walk, Tommy Reed launched a two-run shot over center field.

Landon Guarnere added a homer in a six-run fifth inning. Austin Glaze tripled, and Martinez and Crippen each doubled.

Seth Landry, Cayce Crippen and Guarnere each had three hits in the win. Guarnere and Cole Crippen also had multiple hits.

Port Neches’ Majors will take on West End, a 12-2 loser to North Shore, at 7 tonight at Nederland Little League fields. The winner must beat North Shore twice, starting with Saturday’s title game.

I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

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