SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania – Everything seemed to be going according to plan for Texas.
The Southwest Regional champions were leading Florida 4-0 in the third inning of the Little League World Series title game on Saturday. Starting pitcher Julian Hurst had not allowed a single hit, let alone a run, and had beaten the Florida team last Monday.
Then things got crazy. Three lead changes later, Florida is on its way to the LLWS championship on Sunday. Luis Calo hit a two-run double in the sixth inning to give the lead and Lake Mary, Florida, beat Boerne, Texas, 10-7 in the semifinals.
“We prepared for it, we worked for it,” said manager Jonathan Anderson. “It was our summer.”
Florida, the Southeast Region representative, will face Taiwan, which beat Venezuela 4-1, on Sunday afternoon. It will be the first appearance by a Florida team in the title game since 2003, when East Boynton Beach lost 10-1 to Japan’s Musashi-Fuchi.
Texas seemed to be in control after Doc Mogford hit a two-run double past the outstretched glove of Jacob Bibaud to make it 4-0.
Florida’s comeback began an inning later when James Feliciano hit a pop-up ball for an RBI single. An inning later, Teraj Alexander capped a four-run rally when he stole a home run to give Florida its first lead of the game, 5-4.
Kaleb Christ (4) of Boerne, Texas, hits a groundout and scores a run in the second inning of the United State Championship baseball game against Lake Mary, Florida, in the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Saturday, August 24, 2024. Photo credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar
“I saw the catcher looking into the mound,” Teraj said. “I just started sneaking up. Then when I thought I had it, 100%, I just ran.”
After Texas had made up three runs, Florida went into its final at-bat in the sixth inning with a 7-5 lead.
But Jacob Bibaud hit a ground ball that bounced through the infield, bringing in James Feliciano and cutting the lead to 7-6. A sacrifice fly by Liam Morrisey brought in Garrett Rohozen and tied the game.
After Luis made his decisive hit, Liam – who came in as a substitute runner – stole third base and was about to score when an error caused the ball to land loosely on the third base line.
Kaleb Christ (4) of Boerne, Texas, hits a groundout and scores a run in the second inning of the United State Championship baseball game against Lake Mary, Florida, in the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Saturday, August 24, 2024. Photo credit: AP/Gene J. Puskar
“I know I pushed them hard and I know I told them this work would get them to the promised land. And I’m sure they didn’t believe me,” Anderson said. “But here we are, guys, here we are. The work isn’t done yet. We’ve got one more. But boy are we close.”
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Avery Hill is a student in the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State.
