Boynton Beach, Tokyo teams to play for championship today

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- R.J. Neal backed up his boast, and now his Florida team will play Japan for the Little League World Series championship.

A day after he guaranteed a win, Neal hit a two-run homer to lead Boynton Beach over Saugus, Mass., 9-2 Saturday night in the U.S. title game.

It was Neal's first home run at the series -- and something he knew he needed to deliver after his comments Friday.

"Today, I knew I had to step up my game and do something because I was talking all that junk on camera," Neal said.

Devon Travis also hit a two-run homer as Boynton Beach (4-1) avenged its only loss of the series. Saugus (4-1) beat the Florida team 4-3 in pool play Monday night.

Earlier Saturday, Tokyo beat the Netherlands Antilles 14-6 to mark the third straight year a Japanese team has reached the Little League World Series championship game.

A Tokyo team won the series in 2001, beating Apopka, Fla., 2-1. Last year, Louisville, Ky., beat Sendai, Japan, 1-0.

The world championship game is scheduled for tonight.

Michael Broad added a leadoff homer in the fifth for Boynton Beach, which Richie DeJesus followed up with a solo shot of his own, making it 9-2.

Cody Emerson (2-0) struck out nine, allowing only four hits and two walks in the win. Craig Cole (0-1) took the loss.

Saugus was forced to start Cole after using both Michael Scuzzarella and Matthew Muldoon in its seven-inning U.S. semifinal game. Their other starter, Jason Kasabuski, had started in the previous game against Boynton Beach.

"We had full faith in Craig," Saugus manager Rob Rochenski said. "Obviously this was not our night."