Westport Defeats Tennessee in Little League World Series Opener

The New England champions continued their victory streak Thursday with their 3-2 World Series opener win over the Southeast Little League team from Tennessee.

Starting pitcher Chad Knight followed Saturday's 14-strikeout effort by fanning eight at Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pa.

Knight also proved to be invaluable to Westport's offense, hitting a go-ahead double in the bottom of the fifth inning to drive in the team's winning run.

How does it feel -- not only to win, but to be an integral part of the team's victory?

"For the last four or five years I've been dreaming to be here and now, just to be here and win this game, we're living the dream," Knight told ESPN2 after the game.

It wasn't an easy win. Knight was hit during the first inning when a throw to third struck his head. At first he was told to advance to home, but a review showed the ball was not out of play, and Knight remained at third.

But then Matt Stone came up to bat, blooping a hit to centerfield, driving Knight in to score.

Tennessee tied the game in the third. After 68 pitches, Knight was relieved by Harry Azadian in the fifth inning. The game was still tied until Azadian gave up a homerun to Tennessee's Ben Pickman. 

But Westport answered at the bottom of the fifth, when Ricky Offenberg hit his second homerun of the season to tie the game. Chris Drbal battled for a nine-pitch at-bat to get to first base -- then Knight drove in the go-ahead run.

Azadian pitched a three up, three down sixth inning to secure Westport's victory.

Westport will play the Northwest champion team Sammamish, Wash., at 2 p.m. Sunday.