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Ousted: Local Big League team eliminated in semifinals

Kerry Gilstrap/The Courier

S.C. District 1 shortstop Jacob Childress tosses the ball to second base to try to put out Florida’s Brenden Overton during their U.S. semifinal game Tuesday evening at the J.B. “Red” Owens Complex in Easley. Florida won 6-0 to advance to Wednesday’s championship game against Puerto Rico.

EASLEY — Facing off against a pitcher on a mission to send his team to the championship game of the Big League

BLWS

BLWS

World Series, there wasn’t much the South Carolina District 1 host team could do to help its own cause Tuesday night.

Florida pitcher Bradford Deppermann turned in a one-hit gem, as he struck out eight batters against just one walk in a complete-game effort to lift Florida — representing the Southeast region — to a 6-0 victory and into Wednesday’s championship game against Puerto Rico.

The game between Florida and Puerto Rico — which defeated Latin America by a final score of 3-0 in the other semifinal game Tuesday — will be televised live by ESPN2 from the J.B. “Red” Owens Complex at 6:30 p.m.

District 1 opened Big League World Series play with three straight victories, which came by a combined score of 23-8.

Already assured a spot in the semifinals, the host team fell 7-3 to the U.S. West squad from California on Sunday before being shut out by Florida on Tuesday night.

Up by a score of 3-0 after three innings, Florida pulled away for good in the fourth, as it got scored a run on a groundout by Trevor Jensen and a two-run single by Ian Lisle, who finished 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI.

A single from leadoff hitter Jacob Childress marked the only District 1 hit of the night, while Brandon Hood was issued a walk and was hit by a pitch.

Entering Tuesday’s games, the host team had a 3-1 record in the tournament after knocking off the U.S. Southwest team 5-1, the U.S. Central squad 11-4 and the Southeast 7-6. The hosts’ only loss came in Sunday’s game against the U.S. West team.

The U.S. Southeast team had a 3-1 record as well, with wins over the U.S. Southwest (8-7), the U.S. West (6-4), and the U.S. East (4-3).

The U.S. West team and the U.S. Central team both finished the series with 2-2 records. The U.S. East team was 1-3 in pool play.

On the international side of the tournament, Puerto Rico was the only team to finish pool play with a perfect 4-0 record, topping Canada 9-0, The Netherlands 15-5, Chinese Taipei 6-4 and Venezuela 5-0.

Venezeula was 3-1 entering Tuesday after beating The Netherlands 4-1, Chinese Taipei 2-1 and Canada 8-1.

Chinese Taipei finished 2-1 n tournament play, while The Netherlands was 1-3 and Canada was the only team winless in the tournament with an 0-4 record.

 Courtesy of The Journal

Ben Robinson contributed to this story.