Bellaire uses 4 long balls to blast Iowa, claim U.S. title

Bellaire's Terrence McConn jumps on home plate after the first of his two homers.

By BRIAN McTAGGART

August 25, 2000 Web posted at: 12:07 PM EDT (1607 GMT)

WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania (The Houston Chronicle) -- Some baseball caps and a few gloves went flying high into the air, but for the most part the Bellaire Little League All-Stars didn't let their emotions fly away.

It certainly wasn't the kind of celebration you'd expect from a team that had just won the U.S. championship of the 54th Little League World Series, but the boys from Bellaire still have their eyes on a bigger prize.

Behind another dominating performance from ace pitcher Ross Haggard and an outburst of four home runs from the offense, Bellaire beat Davenport, Iowa 8-0 on Thursday night at Howard J. Lamade Stadium and clinched a spot in Saturday's world championship game.

"They are the best baseball team in America right now but talentwise they're probably not," Bellaire manager Terry McConn said.

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"They just know how to get themselves together for big games."

The players admitted after the game that winning the U.S. banner was hard to comprehend, especially since Bellaire entered tournament play more than a month ago, just wanting to win district.

"We probably haven't even realized what's happened yet," Haggard said.

Bellaire will be the designated home team when it meets international champion Venezuela at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday for the chance to be called the best Little League baseball team in the world. Venezuela upset Japan 5-4 on Thursday after losing 10-0 to the same team earlier in the week.

"We didn't even think we'd make it to sectionals, which is the step after district, and now we're here," said catcher Terrence McConn, who led the home run barrage with two long balls.

The last Houston-area team to play for the overall title was Spring's Northwest 45 Little League All-Stars, who lost 17-3 to Taiwan in 1995. The last area to win it all was the Westbury American Little Leaguers in 1966.

"The Little League World Series is supposed to be the biggest thing, but I feel this was the true championship," Terry McConn said.

"Win or lose, we were going to be first or second and that's what I look at. I don't want to make anybody mad, but I think the games with the international teams is an exhibition rather than a true championship."

Haggard, making his first start since throwing a one-hitter on Sunday, turned in another gem even though he didn't have to. In addition to Terrence McConn's two homers, Michael Johnson and Ben Silberman hit homers.

"It seems like all the tournament ball we played we'd go three, four or five games without any home runs and then all of a sudden we'd hit them in spurts," Terry McConn said.

Bellaire hit seven home runs in the past two games after hitting three in a 4-2 win over Davenport in the final game of pool play Tuesday.

"That's a dynamite team that we played," Davenport coach Matt Kolar said. "We've come a long way but that's a team we can't beat. They hit the ball and that's what it takes to win, and Haggard is terrific."

Haggard, after coming two outs shy of a perfect game in a 3-0 win over Goffstown, N.H. on Sunday and getting the save in Tuesday's 4-2 win over Davenport, followed up with another strong performance Thursday.

"It felt really good," Haggard said. "Anything feels good when you win the United States championship. To be in the World Series and have my best pitching, that's awesome."

When asked why he's pitching so well, Haggard didn't shy away from the truth.

"I think it's because I want to show everyone on TV that I'm good," he joked.

More than 30,000 fans filled the seats and hill surrounding Lamade Stadium, though none were as vocal as the Bellaire parents sitting behind the first-base dugout. Wearing cowboy hats and waving Texas flags, the Bellaire faithful had plenty to cheer about from the get-go.

With Terrence McConn at first base with one out in the top of the first, Johnson crushed a ball to deep right that glanced off the glove of Nick Harksen for a two-base error, although it should've been ruled a double.

"They were trying to change speeds so I just scooted up in the box and met the ball out front (of the plate)," said Johnson, who's hitting .583 (7-for-12) in the World Series.

Alex Atherton followed with a bouncer back to the mound that Davenport pitcher Michael Schwartz threw wildly to first base to allow Terrence McConn to score and Johnson reach third. Atherton was caught stealing at second, but not before Johnson hustled home to make it 2-0 for Bellaire.

Next up was Silberman, who drilled a 1-1 pitch over the wall in left-center for a solo homer and 3-0 lead. Silberman paused to watch the ball while rounding first base before raising his hands into the air and eventually getting mobbed by teammates at home plate.

Terrence McConn led off the bottom of the third with a solo homer to left, which he capped by hopping with both feet on the plate, to make it 4-0.

Davenport loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth with a single, a Bellaire error and a walk. But Haggard struck out Dan O'Donnell swinging at a curve ball, Shane White looking with a fast ball on the outside corner and Schwartz swinging at a high fast ball to end the threat.

"I was really pumped up," Haggard said. "I had to work really hard to get out of that."

Bellaire put the game away in the bottom of the fourth. After Hunter Johnson and Drew Zizinia singled with two outs, Terrence McConn ripped a three-run homer to left, and Michael Johnson followed with a solo shot to center to put Bellaire up 8-0.

"We worked really hard, and the United States championship is a big game and the kids came ready to play," Terry McConn said. "It's a dream come true."

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