Roadrunner Little League 'three games from Williamsport' after win

Roadrunner Little League is one of four teams remaining in the the Southwest Region Tournament after a second straight dominating victory at Marvin Norcross Stadium in Waco, Texas.

The New Mexico team pounded Texas West 8-1 on Saturday and moved one step closer to winning the regional and securing a spot in the Little League World Series.

Coach Joe Garcia called the win "a total team effort," noting he saw some of the team's best pitching, batting and base-running of the season.

Roadrunner scored one run in the first, "and then the bats came alive," Garcia said, propelling the team to a large lead they wouldn't relinquish. It also helped, he said, that pitcher Eric Yturbe "twirled some gems."

The win comes a day after Roadrunner defeated Arkansas 9-3. Roadrunner is playing out of the loser's bracket after losing its first game of the tournament, 11-1, to Louisiana.

Roadrunner's next opponent is Oklahoma. First pitch is 11 a.m. Sunday and the game will be broadcast on the Longhorn Network.

Garcia said there are Albuquerque watch parties at Howie's Sports Page, 12500 Montgomery Blvd. NE, and Bubba's 33, 4861 Pan American Fwy.

Whoever wins Sunday's game will play on Monday against the loser of the winner's bracket matchup between Texas East and Louisiana. The winner of Monday's loser's bracket game will play for a championship on Tuesday. In this modified tournament, the title game is win-or-go-home, even for the representative from the winner's bracket. Monday's and Tuesday's games will be broadcast on ESPN.

"We're three games from Williamsport, that's the message to the kids," Garcia said.

The Little League World Series begins Aug. 16 in Williamsport, Penn., and features winners of all regional tournaments.