The Hastings All-Stars have seen the best of both worlds at the Little League World Series.
The B.C. major champions enjoyed one breakthrough, but couldn’t reach the second round at the Williamsport tourney, after getting bounced in Tuesday’s 7-1 loss to Mexico.
The Vancouver squad of 11-13 year olds – featuring 10 east Burnaby boys – will return home from Pennsylvania with some great stories and terrific memories on a whirlwind season.
It may just take a little time to absorb them all.
“They’ve had the time of their lives,” remarked manager Vito Bordignon. “And over the next week they’ll get to hang out with their new friends that they’ve made from all over the world. It’s a wonderful experience just being here. “
Tuesday’s loss was of the must-win variety, and saw Mexico take a 1-0 lead in the first and expand it with four runs in the third.
The Canadian champions put their lone run on the board in the top of the fourth, after going hitless over three innings against starter Victor Juarez.
“We didn’t hit the ball very well. We just couldn’t hit today and we were really frustrated by their pitching,” said Bordignon. “They’re very disappointed in the loss. We didn’t have extremely high expectations, but once you’re here you get those good feelings. And then after the first win we thought there were some real possibilities opening for us. “
Hastings launched the tournament last Friday with a 10-4 win over Tokyo, handing the Japanese champion its first opening round loss since 1965.
Led by the standout pitching of Loreto Siniscalchi, the Canadians took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back. The righthander tossed five and two-third innings, surrendering six hits while fanning 13 batters.
The Burnaby native set the tone, striking out seven of his first eight batters faced – all swinging. He also delivered with the bat, homering in his last at bat while going 2-for-4.
Nathan Clegg finished 1-for-2 with two RBI, while Cristian Santarelli also registered one hit in two at bats, driving in a pair with a home run in the fourth inning to make it 6-0.
On Monday, Hastings suffered a 10-0 loss at the hands of East Seoul in a five-inning mercy rule contest.
The Korean pitching duo of Youbin Choi and Wontae Cho combined for 14 strikeouts – including the first 13 faced – in what would be a one-hitter.
The one hit was delivered by Burnaby’s Stefano Dal Sasso.
– with files from the Vancouver Courier
