AUSTIN (KXAN) — Boerne is one win away from having the best Little League Baseball team in the country.
Boerne topped Henderson, Nevada 5-2 on Wednesday to advance to the United States bracket championship at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Nevada drops into the loser's bracket but can earn a rematch for the U.S. title if they win their next game. Florida and Hawai'i play an elimination game Wednesday night with the winner playing Nevada on Thursday.
The Southwest region champs smacked eight hits and used a 3-run third inning to propel themselves into the U.S. title game. Julian Hurst drove in a run with a single to break a 2-2 tie, then Gray Collins hit a line drive for a double to plate Ben Burkhart. Cooper Hastings hit a deep fly ball to center field that allowed Hurst to tag up and score from third base to give Boerne a 5-2 advantage.
Boerne got its offense going early with two runs in the bottom of the first with a lead-off double by Hurst and a single from Collins to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Hastings hit a sacrifice fly to center to score the opening run and Doc Mogford slashed a double to score Collins. Nevada equalized with a pair in the top of the second, taking advantage of control issues by Boerne's pitching staff. Nevada scored its first run on a bases-loaded walk and then Gunner Beranek drove in a run with a single, but Boerne relief pitcher Kaleb Christ limited the damage to allow only one run after taking over for starter Caden Guffey.
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Hastings finished the game on the mound for Boerne with four innings in relief. He pitched to contact and let his defense do the work, allowing one hit with two strikeouts. Hurst, Mogford, Collins and Gage Steubing each had two hits for Boerne.
The U.S. championship game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CDT, Saturday on ABC.
