LOS ANGELES — The Little League World Series champions returned home to Southern California Monday night after their 2-1 win over Japan in Pennsylvania.

The Ocean View Little League team arrived at Los Angeles International Airport shortly after 7 p.m. They immediately headed to the Little League fields in Huntington Beach for a homecoming celebration with league members, family and fans.

“It's amazing. Finally when we took the plane ride back, the whole team was so happy and we were hugging each other. We were just so excited. When we got back it was so great having the fans come and congratulate us,” said Ocean View player Steven Kotkosky told KCAL-TV upon arrival at the airport.

The city of Huntington Beach planned to honor the team with an official parade on Sept. 10.

NEW YORK — A young fan was hurt when he was hit in the face with a line drive during the first game of a doubleheader between the Florida Marlins and New York Mets on Monday.The boy was struck in the ninth inning when Florida's Greg Dobbs hooked a foul liner into the right-field seats, just beyond the New York dugout. Stadium medical workers immediately tended to the boy, who was bleeding heavily. Accompanied by his mother, he was carted away in a wheelchair after the game and taken under the stands to an ambulance.After the second game, Dobbs said he was informed by Mets vice president of security Rob Kasdon that the boy was expected to be OK. Dobbs said the youngster had a deep cut on his nose, but no breaks to his nose or orbital bones.Dobbs said he was told the boy's eyesight was not damaged, and he planned to call the child's mother to check on him.

NEW YORK — Two people with knowledge of the plans say the lead negotiators for the NBA owners and players will meet Wednesday for just the second time since the lockout began.Commissioner David Stern, deputy commissioner Adam Silver and San Antonio Spurs owner Peter Holt, who leads the labor relations committee, will take part, as will players' association executive director Billy Hunter and union president Derek Fisher of the Lakers, two people told the Associated Press on Monday on condition of anonymity because the talks are supposed to be confidential.

AUSTIN, Texas — Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson has been sentenced to 20 days in jail after reaching a deal to settle two misdemeanor assault cases in Texas.Benson was in court in Austin, Texas, on Monday and the deal was struck after a jury was picked. He said he will surrender to authorities on Oct. 17, which is the Monday of Cincinnati’s bye week.