Little League World Series: North Carolina's Magnificent Run Ends

GREENVILLE, NC — One day after losing to the Southwest in the Little League World Series U.S. Championship, the North State Little League team, representing the Southeast region, was defeated 14-8 by Mexico on Sunday.

The game was played at the Howard J. Lamade stadium in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and aired on ESPN.

North State fell behind 5-0 in the top of the second inning, but was able to get one run back after an Ashton Byars home run in the bottom of the 2nd. Mexico scored again in the top of the 3rd to push the score to 6-1. A diving play in center field prevented another run from scoring.

Cash flashing the leather. #LLWS #MLBThePlay pic.twitter.com/3h5iwVGaj3
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 27, 2017

North State plated another run on a single in the bottom of the third inning, but Mexico blew the game wide open in the top of the fourth, scoring six runs, including a two-run double by Rosendo Cantu past a diving center fielder. (For more information on the North State team and other Greenville stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Not to be outdone, North State mounted an improbable comeback in the bottom of the fourth inning to keep the game within reach, plating six runs after a pair of two-run singles by Bryce Jackson and Luke Lambert, and a two-run home run by Carson Hardee. Also in the inning, Thomas Barrett was plunked in the knee and had to be helped off the field.

North State prevented Mexico from scoring in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Greenville, North Carolina-based team was unable to score despite getting two baserunners in both the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings.

Nearly 300 pitches were thrown in the game.

Final score: 8-14

Photo credit: Rob Carr/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images