US Southeast deals ILLAM third loss

MANILA, Philippines - Asia Pacific champ ILLAM couldn’t find the groove against USA Southeast pitcher Kali Morton and conceded a 0-12 setback to finish its Pool B assignments in the Little League Softball World Series with a 1-3 card Sunday in Portland, Oregon.

Morton allowed ILLAM only one hit and struck out eight as the team from Rowan LL in Salisbury, North Carolina disposed of the Filipinas in five innings and improved to 2-1.

With a day left in pool action, ILLAM is likely to finish fourth in the group and will play the fourth-ranked side over in the Pool A in a consolation battle for seventh overall.

From a slim 1-0 lead, Southeast unloaded five runs in the second to break away and lay the foundation to the convincing win.

Caitlin Mann opened scoring with a ground-out in the first then Southeast cranked it up in the second with runs off an error, Kary Hales’ two-run single, a wild pitch, and Mann’s RBI triple.

The Americans sent two runners to the plate in the fourth and capped their dominance with four more runs in the fifth.