Howard Takes Lead Role in Power Surge

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A one-sided thrashing was a powerful and unmistakable message special-delivered by Thousand Oaks on Thursday in Little League Baseball’s 35th Senior World Series.

After routing Maumee, Ohio, 21-6, at Osceola County Stadium in a game shortened to six innings because of a mercy rule, Thousand Oaks shortstop Kevin Howard said, “We wanted to win big to show this isn’t over--not by a long shot.”

Thousand Oaks (18-1) plays Mobile, Ala., a 6-5 winner in 10 innings over St. Cloud, Fla., at 11:30 a.m. today in the losers’ bracket final. The winner advances to Saturday’s 11 a.m. matchup with Maracaibo, Venezuela, which must be defeated twice to be denied Latin America’s first Senior World Series pennant since LaVega, Dominican Republic’s 1993 triumph over Taipei, Taiwan.

Howard, who was four for five, including two doubles and two runs batted in against three pitchers, said Thousand Oaks had something to prove following Wednesday’s unexpected 3-0 semifinal loss to Venezuela.

“We came out flat against Venezuela, but tonight shows we’re still a hungry team, a mad team that’s hungrier than ever,” Howard said. “We’re confident we can still come back and win this thing.”

Limited to four hits--two by Howard--against Venezuela, Thousand Oaks exploded for 18 against Maumee--six for extra bases, including two long triples by right fielder Wes Munyon.

Thousand Oaks scored in every inning and sent 16 batters to the plate in an 11-run sixth that featured seven hits.

“This is more of what I’m used to seeing,” Thousand Oaks Manager Ed Kitchen said. “We’re back to hitting the ball like we’re capable.”

Pitcher Matt Rogers’ primary job was throwing strikes.

“It wasn’t that tough,” Rogers said. “I knew if I could throw strikes, the defense would do the rest.”

Rogers struck out six, walked six and scattered four singles.

“Tonight wasn’t about me or any one person on this team,” Rogers said. “We play as a team and we win as a team. The offense does what it’s supposed to do and the defense does its job.”

Kitchen said he is confident his team has recaptured the focus that seemed to waver in the loss to Venezuela.

“We played great offensive baseball tonight and are a game away from getting another shot at redemption,” Kitchen said.

The relative ease of chalking up its third victory in four games is not a concern for Thousand Oaks, Kitchen said.

“I don’t think winning by a big margin will prove to be a negative. It hasn’t yet,” Kitchen said.

Thousand Oaks has outscored its past seven opponents, 91-19.

Thousand Oaks 21, Maumee, Ohio, 6

Thousand Oaks: 221 32(11) -- 21 18 3

Maumee, Ohio: 010 21 2 -- 6 4 6

M. Rogers and Hutton; Katafiasz, Warnock (5), N. Adams (6), T. Rogers (6) and Williamson, Peachman (6).

W--Rogers. L--Katafiasz.

2B: TO--Howard 2, Ayers, Morrow.3B:TO--Munyon 2.

Records: Thousand Oaks 18-1; Maumee 12-2.