EASLEY — With a chance to bring home the area’s Little League Baseball and Softball championship since the Easley based S.C. District 1 won the 2007 Big League World Series Championship, the United State’s champion took on Amelia Baseball Club Little League of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico on Saturday morning.

District 1 fell behind early but mounted a late comeback only to fall short of its ultimate goal in a 3-2 loss to the Caribbean regional champions.

Collin Phillips got the start for the host squad overcoming a lead-off walk to take down three straight Puerto Rican batters, but the Caribbean champions got off to an even better start on the mound as starter Yosniel Rosario Santos struck out the side for Amelia to keep things knotted at 0-0 through one inning.

Phillips ran into trouble in the second inning giving up a lead-off double to Josniel Alicea Irizarry, then walking two more Puerto Rican batters to load the bases with no outs. District 1 managed to get one out at the plate as the result of a fielder’s choice, but Amelia got on the board with a ground out driving in Santos to put them ahead 1-0. Another walk loaded the bases for the Caribbean champions again, only for Phillips to settle in and deliver the third out with a strikeout.

While Phillips settled down over the next two innings, District 1 was still unable to find its groove in the batter’s box. Bradley Runion gave the host squad its first base runner of the day with a single in the fourth inning, but Santos continued to roll for Amelia picking up two straight outs to get out of the inning.

Not to be deterred, the host squad came back out in the fifth and saw its first runner in scoring position after a one out double from Levi Holcomebe. Logan Martin moved Holcombe over to third base with a sacrifice bunt and a costly balk by Santos scored the runner to tie things at 1-1 heading into the sixth inning.

Pearce Thompson came on to pitch for District 1 hitting Ian Ayala Rivera to put the go-ahead run on the basepaths. The Puerto Rican runner wasn’t there for long as backstop Tristan Buzbee picked him off at first base to wipe the slate clean. From there, Thompson took down the Caribbean champions with consecutive strikeouts to give the host squad a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth.

District 1 seemed to have momentum on its side with Noah Dubovich drawing a hit by pitch to reach base at the start of the inning and quickly getting moved into scoring position on a single to center field from Buzbee. Runion then put the host squad ahead 2-1 with single to right field, while also getting Buzbee over to third base. With his back against the wall, Santos locked in for the Caribbean champions controlling the damage by taking down the next three District 1 batter’s to leave Buzbee and Runion stranded at the corners.

Amelia looked to answer back drawing a leadoff walk and District 1 quickly swapped pitchers bringing Graham Campbell on to pitch. The change didn’t stop the Puerto Rican bats, as Fabian Ruiz Rodriguez tied the game with a double to left field. Campbell picked up an out on a fly out, but allowed Rodriguez to advance to third on a wild pitch. Then, Sebastian Cruz Melendez gave Amelia a 3-2 lead with a single. Jake Hart came in for Campbell hoping to stop the bleeding and helped the host squad get out of the inning by drawing a double play.

With the championship on the line, District 1 quickly fell into trouble as Holcombe struck out and Martin was forced into a ground out. Angel Vargas was hit by a pitch to give the host squad hope with the tying run on the basepaths only for a Dubovich fly out to end the tournament for the United State’s champion.