With their collective backs to the wall after suffering their first loss of the summer, the Lake Mary Little League 12U All-Stars have rebounded with impressive back-to-back victories to earn a spot in today’s (Saturday) United States Championship Game at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
After winning its first two games, the Southeast Region Champions (5-1 in World Series, 17-1 overall) lost in the Winner’s Bracket Semifinals of the United States Bracket, 4-1, to the Southwest Champions from Boerne Little League of Boerne, Texas, on Monday.
That’s when the ‘real’ World Series started for the Florida Champions as another loss would end the quest for the title for the locals.
The Loser’s Bracket run began with a 6-1 victory over the Metro Champions from South Shore Little League of Staten Island, New York, on Tuesday that clinched at least a Top 8 finish in the world and a Top 4 finish in the United States.
Lake Mary then pulled off an amazing, 4-3, victory over the West Champions from Central East Maui Little League of Wailuku, Hawaiii, on Wednesday, that upped the ante to at least a Top 6 finish in the World and a Top 3 finish in the U.S.
Thursday night was the U.S. Loser’s Bracket Final against the Mountain Champions from Paseo Verde Little League of Henderson, Nevada, with a spot in the United States Championship Game on the line.
And the Southeast Champs got off to a great start as the first three batters in the lineup _ Chase Anderson, J.J. Feliciano and Garrett Rohozen _ all walked, forcing a pitching change which results in consecutive singles from Landon Bono (RBI), D.J. Mieses (two RBI) and Jacob Bibaud (RBI) that gave the locals a 4-0. A strikeout and double play got Henderson out of the jam, but the damage had been done.
Unfortunately for Lake Mary, the bottom of the first was almost as bad for them as the top had been good.
A single, double and hit batter loaded the bases with no one out, before back-to-back RBI singles and a sacrifice fly plated three runs. But starter Lathan Norton, who had been outstanding in relief earlier in the tournament, righted the ship, getting a line out and a ground out to end the inning and preserve the lead.
The game settled down at that point as both pitcher’s got through the second without further damage.
Lake Mary was able to put up some insurance in the third on a home run off the bat of Feliciano (his second of the series) and just missed another homer when Bono’s blast was robbed by the Henderson right fielder.
Hoping to save Norton for potential games today and Sunday, rarely used Taraj Alexander (the sixth pitcher used by Lake Mary in the Series), who has been an offensive star, came on in relief in the third inning and was outstanding, going 3-2/3 innings and allowing no run on three hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
Lake Mary added another insurance run in the sixth inning on an Rohozen homer, also his second of the series, to make the score 6-3.
In the bottom of the sixth, Henderson sandwiched a single between a pair of ground outs and then got another single to bring the tying run to the plate and Lake Mary manager Jonathan Anderson brought ace Feliciano into the game and the tall right-hander got a weak fly to center to earn a save and put Lake Mary into the United State Championship Game.
The Southeast Champs will face the Southwest Champs (Texas) in a rematch at 3:30 p.m. on ABC today, following the International Championship Game between Asia-Pacific (Kuei-Shan Little League of Taoyuan City, Chinese Taipei) and Latin America (Cardenales Little League of Barquisimeto, Venezuela) at 12:30 p.m., also on ABC.
Win or lose, all four teams will play on Sunday, the Third Place Game at 10 a.m. on ESPN2 and the World Championship Game at 3 p.m. on ABC.
It has been announced by the City of Lake Mary and Lake Mary Little League that there will be a Parade to celebrate the 12U Team next Saturday (August 31) at 10 a.m. on 4th Street in Downtown Lake Mary. Everyone is encouraged to attend.
Visit _ https://www.littleleague.org/world-series/2024/llbws/ or https://www.facebook.com/LakeMaryLittleLeague _ for information.
