August 25, 1956
Special to the El Paso Times
Williamsport, Pa. – The Roswell Lions-Hondo Little League All-Stars of Roswell, N.M., defeated Delaware Township, N.J., 3-1, here Friday to win the world championship of the Little League program.
Hero of the day was Tommy Jordan, who pitched and batted his team to the first world championship held by a New Mexico team. It was his fourth-inning home run over the center-filed scoreboard with two on which put Roswell into a lead which never was threatened. In addition, Jordan fanned 14 men, walked one, gave up only two hits and hit one batsman. The two hits included a home run by Henry (Sweet Pea) Singleton, tiny Negro first baseman, in the third inning and a single by Fred Shapiro in the second. It was the second year in arrow that Delaware Township had lost in the World Series finals. Jordan’s four-baser was one of two hits garnered by Roswell in the game. The other was a single by Ferrell Dunham, who followed Jordan to the plate in the fourth. Jordan pitched the entire game for the Roswell team while Delaware Township used two hurlers, Roy Hayman started for the New Jerseyites and was relieved after hurling 3 2/3 innings by Wilbur Robinson, who came in from shortstop. In center field for Delaware Township was Shapiro, who Thursday pitched the only perfect game in the 10-year history of Little League World Series. It was a 2-0 victory over Colton, Calif. In their battle to attain the World Championship, the Roswell boys first defeated Upp. Darby, Pa., 3-1, Wednesday afternoon behind the two-hit pitching of Jordan. Then came a 6-3 win over Winchester, Mass., Thursday with Dunham on the mound. Dunham gave up five hits. Prior to World Series competition, the Roswell nine won the district tournament for Southeastern New Mexico, the state meet at Los Alamos, the district tourney at Lubbock, Texas, and the area championship at San Antonio. Pitching during the tournaments was alternated between Jordan and Dunham, with each boy turning in a creditable performance, every time he appeared.
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