Louisiana team wins Southwest crown

BRENHAM, Texas – The Marksville Little League of Marksville, La., played its way into the 2005 Senior League World Series on Tuesday by defeating the Northside Suburban Little League of San Antonio, Texas, 12-6, in the U.S. Southwest championship game.

Marksville, located in central Louisiana, will draw a bye Sunday during the opening day of pool play at the Senior League World Series at Mansfield Stadium in Bangor. The U.S. Southwest champs will play its tournament opener at 5 p.m. Monday against Tbilisi, Georgia, champion of the Europe-Middle East-Africa region.

The Louisiana team went undefeated during pool play at its regional, then defeated Texas East champion Needville, Texas, 2-1 in a semifinal Monday before besting the previously undefeated Texas West champions from San Antonio in the final game.

Marksville will join Tbilisi, Latin American champion Santiago Veraguas, Panama, and yet to be determined teams from the U.S. Central and U.S. East in Pool B at the Senior League World Series. Host Bangor and Asia Pacific champion Agana, Guam, will be joined by the champions from the U.S. East, U.S. West and Canada in Pool A.