Hariquez Throws Gem
Source: South Williamsport, Pa.
Date/Time: Saturday, August 22, 2009, 1:00pm ET
Pabao Little League’s (PLL) pitcher Claycandy (pronounced Clay-sandy)
Hariquez struck out 13 batters, knocked in the winning win, and scored the first
run in a tightly fought 2-1 victory over Coquivacoa Little League (CLL) from
Maracaibo, Venezuela, at Volunteer Stadium on the second day of the Little
League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
It was the first game for both teams in the tournament.
The phenom, pitching for the Caribbean Region Champions from Willemstad,
Curacao, only walked one batter in tossing a complete game. His coach wasn’t as
impressed as you might expect.
“He threw very well, but I know him very well, also,” manager Vernon Isabella
said. “I know he can perform much better than he did today.”
Isabella cited Hariquez’s performanace against the same Latin American Region
Champions in last year’s Little League World Series where the manager said his
pitcher tallied 14 or 15 strikeouts.
“I was ready for the game,” Hariquez said. “I knew that I was going to be the
starting pitcher of the first World Series game.”
He retired all three batters he faced in every inning but the fourth, when he
allowed an RBI double by left fielder Mikey Eddie.
“I thought we were going to take the lead that inning,” Coquivacoa manager
Freddy Moran said. “I had the middle of my order coming up.”
The game was tied 1-all in the fourth, but Hariquez struck out center fielder
Oberto Munoz with a pair runners aboard and two outs before the team from
Maracaibo, Venezuela would score the winning run in the bottom half of the
inning.
Pabao shortstop Junters Dossett drew a walk to lead off the frame, and Hariquez
was the hero by stroking a double to score Dossett with the winning run.
“It felt good,” Dossett said. “It was an important run.”
Hariquez accounted for his team’s first run, in the second inning, as well. He
drew a walk, and then beat the throw to home after first baseman Ildion Martina
was tagged out at second trying to stretch his single into a double.
If not for Hariquez, Coquivacoa pitcher Jose Martinez may have been the player
of the game. He threw 4.2 innings, allowing only two hits and fanning eight
batters.
“I knew beforehand that he was a very good pitcher,” Isabella said. “According
to statistics in the regionals for Latin America, he was the best pitcher for
Venezuela.”
While this was Martinez’s first game in Williamsport, Pa., Hariquez and four
other teammates participated in last year’s tournament.
“I felt less nervous than last year,” Hariquez said.
Before the game Isabella sang his country’s national anthem. If they can squeeze
more gems out of a calm Hariquez, the Caribbean Region Champions could find
themselves singing their way into the World Series Championship.