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	Legion WS, Day 1
	Legion WS, Day 2

By John Royster
Yakima, Wash.
August 27, 2001

GAME 9

Omaha scored eight runs in the fourth inning and cruised to the first mercy-rule victory of this year's World Series. It also was the tournament's first shutout, authored by Omaha righthander John Ciacccio, who allowed four hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Brooklawn showed strength again, winning a "throwaway" game after it already had clinched a spot in the semifinals. It scored four runs in the third inning to create a tie, and four more in the sixth to break another. Brooklawn saved its pitching despite the high score, as starter Bill DeMarco went seven innings. But pitching still is a potential problem, as ace righthander Jeff Mazzola is struggling with tendinitis in his shoulder.

Midwest City broke a 4-4 tie with three runs in the top of the sixth, and scored four more times in the ninth. The go-ahead run came home on catcher Zech Reed's sacrifice fly. DH Nick Thigpen, who went 4-for-5, followed with an RBI single. Milford committed seven errors and allowed six unearned runs.

The top of the sixth was also the key inning for Lewiston, which erased a one-run deficit with three scores. Center Fielder Nate Martin's single tied the game, and left fielder Jake Rogers' two-run triple gave the Twins a 5-3 lead. Righthander Chris Dowell, 16, pitched a complete game, allowing nine hits and four walks while striking out eight.

Sunday's games ended the round-robin part of the World Series. The semifinals are Monday, with Lewiston (3-0) playing Midwest City (2-1) at 4 p.m. EDT, and Brooklawn (3-0) playing Omaha at 7.

Danville and Milford finished 1-2, and Albany and Napoleon went 0-3.