SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — As soon as the ball came off his bat, Curley Martha pointed to the sky — he knew that one was gone.
Curley hit a two-run homer to center in the fifth inning and got the final 11 outs as a relief pitcher, helping Curacao beat Japan 5-4 Saturday to advance to the Little League World Series title game.
Japan loaded the bases in the sixth but Curley got out of the jam after a wild pitch scored two runs and put the tying run at third base. Ryohei Ushikubo hit a line drive toward the left centerfield gap, but Keven Rosina made the catch.