Scottsdale, Arizona 7
Albuquerque, New Mexico 4

Scottsdale, Arizona, punched the clock at 5 p.m. and in workmanlike fashion defeated the USA Southwest champ Albuquerque, New Mexico, 7-4.
 
It was the third straight win for the USA West champs and the 21st victory in a row since starting post-season play a month ago. New Mexico, which needed a victory, fell to 2-2 in pool play.
 
Arizona pitchers Grant Martinez, Cody Erickson and Ryan Riggs kept New Mexico at bay, allowing four runs on five hits and striking out 10. In three JLWS games, Arizona pitchers have allowed just five runs.
 
Dylan Cozens, Duncan Morfitt and Michael DeRegis each had two hits for Arizona.  Ronald Alderete had two hits for New Mexico.

A record-setting weeknight crowd may be a preview of things to come during the Junior League World Series of baseball at Taylor’s Heritage Park.

Four games are scheduled for Thursday on World Series Field. Each may have a bearing on the USA and International championship games that will take place on Friday.

Thursday’s Schedule
●Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy (1-2) vs. Oranjestad, Aruba (3-0), 11 a.m.
●Yabucoa, Puerto Rico (3-0) vs. Saipan, Mariana Islands (2-1), 2 p.m.
●Jackson, New Jersey (2-1) vs. Scottsdale, Arizona (3-0), 5 p.m.
●Easley, South Carolina (0-3) vs. Middlebury, Indiana (1-2), 8 p.m.

Thursday’s games will conclude pool play in the 29th annual World Series for the best teams of 13- and 14-year-old players from around the globe. The top two teams in the International Pool play at 5 p.m. Friday. The top two teams in the USA Pool play at 8 p.m. Friday.

The International and USA champions meet for the world title at 5 p.m. The final game of the World Series will be televised live on ESPNU and rebroadcast on ESPN2.

Heritage Park is located at 21555 Pardee Road between Goddard and Northline. Tickets are $5 per carload per day or $10 for the entire week. Both fees include parking.

Here are the pool standings entering Thursday’s games:

USA Pool
Scottsdale, Arizona (West Regional Champion) 3-0
Jackson, New Jersey (East Regional Champion) 2-1
Albuquerque, New Mexico (Southwest Regional Champion) 2-2
Middlebury, Indiana (Central Regional Champion) 1-2
Easley, South Carolina (Southeast Regional Champion) 0-3
 
International Pool
Yabucoa, Puerto Rico (National Champion) 3-0
Oranjestad, Aruba (Latin America Champion) 2-1
Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands (Asia-Pacific Champion) 2-1
Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy (Europe/Middle East/Africa Champion) 1-2
Coquitlam, British Columbia (Canadian National Champion) 0-4