WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — The Boerne Little League all-star team lost 10-7 to Lake Mary, Fla., in the U.S. championship game at the Little League World Series on Saturday.
They next will play in the Third Place Game on Sunday at 9 a.m. CDT against Venezuela.
This was Boerne's first-ever trip to Williamsport, and they came out swinging and put up a nine-spot in their first game of the tournament while also not allowing a single run.
The combination of hot bats and aces on the mound has proven to be the biggest difference between Boerne and the opponents they've faced as they have outscored them 18-3 in their first three games.
On Saturday, they took on a hot Florida team that was coming off three straight elimination game wins.
The fun started in the second inning when Jett Matthews scored on a past ball with bases loaded, followed by Kaleb Christ hitting a rocket past the first baseman to bring in the second run of the inning.
In the third, Doc Mogford hit a 2-run double to extend the lead 4-0.
Florida's bats started to come alive in the fourth when they were able to cut the lead down to 4-1. A strong fifth inning made the game interesting after Florida rallied and was able to take the lead 5-4 after Teraj Alexander with Florida stole home.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Boerne answered after Gray Collins tied the game with a bases loaded RBI single, immediately followed by two past balls by Florida that Boerne was able to capitalize on and regain the lead 7-5.
In the final inning, Florida got the bases loaded with no outs and brought in two runs to tie the game before a two-out double ended up bringing in three more runs to make the score 10-7 before Boerne's final at-bat.
Boerne got one on in the bottom of the sixth, but a double play ended the game and Florida advanced to the championship game.