Florida Advances With 6-1 Victory

Will Blankenship hit a three-run homer in the first inning, leading Apopka, Fla., to a 6-1 victory Wednesday night over Brownsburg, Ind., in a U.S. semifinal of the Little League World Series at South Williamsport, Pa.

With runners on first and second, Blankenship hit a shot over the left-field fence for his third home run of the series.

Justin Lafavers (2-0) struck out four of the first five Brownsburg batters, giving up three hits. He walked two and struck out seven.

T.J. Baumet (1-1) took the loss.

Apopka (3-1) advanced to Saturday’s U.S. championship against the winner of today’s semifinal between the Rolando Paulino team from the Bronx, N.Y., and Oceanside, Calif.

The Bronx beat Apopka, 5-0, in pool play when Danny Almonte threw only the third perfect game in Little League World Series history, striking out 16 Apopka batters.

Zach Zwieg’s single scored Tapley in the fifth, and Stuart Tapley hit an run-scoring double in the sixth to put Apopka ahead, 6-1.

Japan 15, Mexico 5--Atsushi Mochizuki hit a grand slam in the fifth inning and finished with six runs batted in as Tokyo Kitasuna defeated Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, in an international semifinal game.

Japan (3-1) will play either Guam or the Netherlands Antilles in the international championship.