Rally falls short; Mississippi ends SLC’s run (8/11)

Posted August 10, 2009 at 11:11 pm
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FROM STAFF REPORTS

WACO, Texas — A thrilling finalinning comeback was snuffed short for the South Lake Charles Little League All-Stars, who were eliminated from the Southwest Regional tournament in a 4-3 loss to Mississippi on Monday.

SLC trailed 4-0 heading into the sixth inning, but put together a three-run rally with two outs and had runners at second and third before relief pitcher Eddie Rey Garza recorded the final out for Mississippi by striking out Dylan Greenman.

“It’s a lot of pressure for a 12-yearold to put on himself,” said SLC coach Kevin Cart. “Poor guy chased a breaking ball down in the dirt for strike three. He’s been our leadoff guy all year; he’s the guy I really want up there in that situation. It just didn’t work out that time.”

It was a surprise that SLC even made it that close after the first two batters of the sixth were retired in order.

“Nobody wants to be the last out of the game. It’s just a shame we kind of ran out of outs,” Cart said. “You’ve got to give the boys credit, they could have laid down. They showed a lot of character. It makes you proud to coach a group like that.”

Brad Scofield and Canon Cart each came off the bench and provided RBIs during the comeback attempt. Scofield was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded before Cart knocked home two more runs with a base hit.

SLC managed three hits off of 6-foot-1 Mississippi starting pitcher Trent Gill in 5 2/3 innings of work, then finally cracked the scoreboard against the bullpen when down to the final out of the game.

“I didn’t feel they were a better ballclub than us, but I think we caught the wrong rotation with the pitcher,” Kevin Cart said.

Erik Parker took the loss, giving up four runs on five hits in five innings.

SLC reached the Little League World Series twice in recent years, making it to Williamsport, Pa., in 2006 and 2008. SLC lost to eventual world champion Hawaii in the United States championship game in 2008.

“To make it to Williamsport, you have to have some luck,” Kevin Cart said. “You have to have a good team, but you have to be lucky as well. It is tough.”

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