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BANGOR – Tbilisi, Georgia’s first memories of the 2005 Senior League World Series were of airport delays and lost luggage.
The team’s final memory was far more positive as the Europe-Middle East-Africa champions stunned previously unbeaten Latin America champion Santiago Veraguas, Panama, 2-1 at Mansfield Stadium on Wednesday.
“I think we were ready to with this game right before we came here,” said Tbilisi catcher Zura Chitishvili. “We were just doing everything we could to win this game and we did. It’s just awesome.”
The day began on a low note, as Tbilisi dropped a 14-3 decision to Freehold Township, N.J., in the conclusion of a game suspended by rain Sunday night.
But the team’s fortunes changed shortly after the game – their long lost luggage finally arrived two hours before their final game of pool play.
What followed was a rather remarkable display of resilience as Tbilisi shook off six errors and persevered thanks to a pair of highly improbable catches in the late innings.
Elidio Rodriguez opened the Panama sixth with a deep drive to left destined to produce extra bases, but Shota Gvalia – just inserted into the game – made a desperate stretch over his head and made the catch, with half the ball sticking out of his glove.
In the seventh, Panama’s Isaac Forero was on second with one out thanks to an error and a balk. Ruben Tejada then launched a drive to left-center, but center fielder David Mukhadze virtually outran the ball and made the grab – again with much of the ball sticking out of the glove.
Forero reached third on the play, but was stranded there as Tbilisi righthander Otar Minesashvili induced Diego Guerra to fly out to left to end the game.
“It was probably good fortune,” said Tbilisi coach Gia Chikhradze of the snow-cone catches, “but we were just trying our best.”
Minesashvili finished with a five-hitter, walking no one.
“He was one of the best players in the championship tournament of the European division, so we saved him for the best team,” said Chikhradze.
Tbilisi’s win jumbles the Pool B picture, as Panama, Urbandale, Iowa, and Freehold Township, N.J., all will enter Thursday’s final day of pool play with 2-1 records. Only two will advance to Friday’s semifinals.
Panama played without No. 3 hitter Otto Castillo, who was ejected from Tuesday’s win over Marksville, La., for throwing his helmet and had to sit out Wednesday’s game.
But Forero matched Minesashvili on the mound early in the game, and Latin America took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. David Montilla singled to center, went to second on a balk and scored on a fielder’s-choice grounder by Ricardo Pinzon that was thrown away.
Tbilisi answered immediately. Minesashvili singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth and advanced to third on a double to left by Levan Telia. Tornike Nikolashvili then singled to center to drive home both runners and give his team its 2-1 lead.
EMEA 2, LATIN AMERICA 1
(Pool B)
Panama (2-1) Tbilisi, Georgia (1-3)
Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI
Tejada, ss 4 0 1 0 Tavadze, 3b 3 0 0
Guerra, 2b-p 4 0 0 0 Mukhadze, cf 3 0 0
E. Rodriguez, 1b 2 0 0 0 Chitishvili, c 2 0
M. Castillo, 1b 1 0 0 0 Minesashvili, p 3 0
Montilla, rf 3 1 2 0 Telia, rf 3 1 0
Quintero, c 2 0 1 0 Nikolashvili, ss 2 2
Gonzalez, c 1 0 0 0 Letodiani, 2b 2 0 0
Reina, 3b 2 0 0 0 Ambokadze, 2b 1 0 0
Pinzon, 3b 1 0 0 0 Razmadze, 1b 1 0 0
Ju. Aparacio, cf-lf 3 0 0 0 Metreveli, 1b 1 0
R. Rodriguez, lf 1 0 1 0 Gobajishvili, 1b 0
Jo. Aparacio, 2b 2 0 0 0 Gakhokidze, lf 1 0
Forero, p-cf 3 0 0 0 Gvalia, lf 1 0 0
Totals 29 1 5 0 Totals 24 2 6 2
Latin America 000 100 0-1
Europe-Middle East-Africa 000 200 x-2
E-Jo. Aparacio; Nikolashvili 4, Letodiani, Ramadze; LOB-Latin America 7, EMEA 8; 2B-Tejada; Telia
Latin America IP H R ER BB SO
Forero (L, 0-1) 3 5 2 2 2 4
Guerra 3 1 0 0 2 2
EMEA IP H R ER BB SO
Minesashvili (W, 1-0) 7 5 1 0 0 3
Forero faced three batters in 4th.
WP-Minesashvili 2; PB-Chitishvili; T-2:09; ATT-210
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