Tharick Martines struck out 14 in a one-hitter while also hitting a three-run homer to lead Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, to a 10-0 victory over Altagracia, Venezuela, Wednesday in the first international semifinal at the Little League World Series.
"My fastball was my best pitch today, but this was not the best I've pitched," Martines said.
This is the third consecutive year a Curacao team reached the international championship game. It will play the winner of Thursday's game between Tokyo and Mexico City. The international final is Saturday.
The world championship game is Sunday.
Martines' home run came in the fourth inning and made it 7-0.
"We talked after yesterday's game about who was hitting and who was not hitting," Curacao coach Michelangelo Celestina said. "We came here today more focused at the plate."
Martines (1-1) allowed an infield single in the fifth. Edixon Martinez (0-1) took the loss.
Florida 4, Arizona 1
Michael Broad threw a one-hitter and Richie DeJesus was 3-for-3 and drove in two runs as Boynton Beach, Florida, beat Chandler, Arizonz, 4-1.
DeJesus drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI double in the fourth, then scored on R.J. Neal's RBI single. An RBI single from DeJesus in the fifth made it 4-1.
Broad (2-0) struck out nine and didn't walk a batter. Justin Rosales (1-1) took the loss.
Tim Fowler of Chandler (3-1) had an RBI double in the first that tied the game 1-1.
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