The all-star team from the Chula Vista-based Park View Little League is set to resume play in the Little League World Series Tuesday, still in contention for the title, thanks to another stellar pitching performance by Victor Lizarraga.
The game was originally scheduled for Monday, but a rain day has delayed the game until Tuesday.
Lizarraga pitched a two-hitter, striking out nine in a 5-0 victory over the all-star team from the McAllister Park American Little League Saturday in an elimination game at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The victory advances Park View into an elimination game Monday against the loser of Sunday's game between the all-star teams from the Maine-Endwell Little League of Endwell, New York, the Mid-Atlantic Region champion, and the Goodlettsville Baseball Little League of Goodlettsville, Tennessee.
A loss would have relegated Park View to consolation play, unable to compete for the championship.
Lizarraga allowed only two runners to reach second, issued just one walk and hit a batter. Lizarraga pitched a one-hitter, striking out 13, in the 1-0 victory over the all-star team from Las Vegas' Mountain Ridge Little League in the West Region championship game Aug. 13 that put them in the Little League World Series.
Lizarraga threw 82 pitches Saturday and won't be able to pitch again until Thursday under Little League rules requiring four days of rest for pitchers throwing 66 or more pitches in a day.
If Park View wins Monday and Tuesday, it would play Thursday for a berth in Saturday's U.S. Championship Game.
Park View got all the runs it would need in the top of the first inning.
Ali Camarillo led off with a triple and scored three batters later on a passed ball. Lucas Marrujo scored the second run. He was hit by a pitch, moved to second on the passed ball that allowed Camarillo to score, advanced to third on Lizarraga's fly out and scored on a wild pitch.
Park View added a run in the second as Daniel Leon scored on a passed ball after leading off with a double and moved to third on a ground out.
Pinch-hitter Devin Hinojosa hit a two-run homer in the third for Park View.
