Central Iowa also clobbers ILLAM

Mikayla Houge pitched a no-hitter as USA Central champ Central Iowa steamrolled Asia-Pacific counterpart ILLAM, 12-0, to hand the squad from the Philippines its second straight loss in the Little League Softball World Series Friday in Portland, Oregon.

Houge continuously frustrated the Pinay batters with her pitches, striking out 10 and walking two to power debuting Central Iowa to the four-inning victory in Pool B.

Carley Wilson went perfect in her four trips at bat and accounted for four RBIs and two runs as the Iowans scored seven hits combined against Alexandria Romero-Salas and Julia Carsi Cruz.

Central seized control in the bottom first, 3-0, with Wilson getting things rolling with a two-run single and Maggie Larson following it up with a sacrifice fly that scored Wilson.

ILLAM managed to get runners in scoring position in the top second after Houge, with two outs, issued back-to-back walks to Martine Francisco and Azusa Murano. But West pulled the plug in the next play as Larson collected Kendra Morris’ hard ground ball to first base to get the third out.

Central continued its rampage in the bottom second with Isabelle Johnson, Houge, and Wilson taking charge in sending four to the plate to extend their margin to 7-0.

A five-run explosion in the bottom third put Iowa farther away then Houge retired the side in the top fourth to put the exclamation point to the triumph.

The ILLAM softbelles next battle Canada’s Layritz team from Victoria, which also dropped its first two assignments.