Braves near perfect in 2-1 win over Cardinals

Pitchers Kevin Powers and Todd Locken were nearly perfect Tuesday as

they led the Braves in a 2-1 victory over the Cardinals in Robinwood

Little League Majors Division action.

Powers started on the mound and did not allow a batter to reach base.

He struck out five in the process. Following his three perfect innings,

Locken came in and proceeded to retire the first six batters he faced.

In the top of the sixth, however, a fielding error allowed the

Cardinals their first base runner, who later scored when Bobby Duarte

flared a single just over third base with one out, breaking up a

potential no-hit shutout for the Braves duo.

Locken then retired the next two batters, and finished with six

strikeouts overall.

The Cardinals’ Tyler Borkovetz was nearly as formidable as he

scattered six hits over five innings.

The Braves scored all the runs they would need in the third inning.

With two out, Locken doubled to center and advanced to third on a passed

ball. Andrew Compton then drew a walk and stole second, before the two

were brought home on Ryan Olson’s two-RBI single to left field.

Olson led all hitters with three singles.

In other games:

Dodgers 12, Mets 7

The Dodgers used a 10-run fourth inning, sparked by a three-run home

run by Justin Callina, to get past the Mets. Kyle Buchan, Dalton Jones

and Bryce Overend combined their efforts for the victory. For the Mets,

Nathan Roe and Gian Bruno finished with two hits each.

Braves 12, Yankees 5

Once again, the Braves used outstanding pitching to post another

victory. This time, Todd Locken pitched three perfect innings. He also

doubled twice and had four RBI. In addition, Kevin Powers, Andrew

Compton, Kevin Radle and DJ Huber each had two hits, Compton added two

RBI and Olson and Keegan Grebe each contributed an RBI single.