AUSTIN (KXAN) — Boerne finished fourth at the Little League World Series on Sunday following a 4-3 loss to Venezuela at Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The Southwest region champs jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning, but the Latin American champions posted a pair of runs in the second and third innings and clamped down defensively to grab the win.
Boerne had two of its four hits in the opening frame, singles by Julian Hurst and Cooper Hastings, and they scored two runs on a Venezuela fielding error. Another run scored on a passed ball to give Boerne the early lead.
Venezuela took the lead after a bases-loaded walk in the third inning.
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Boerne had two great chances to regain the lead late in the game. An Aiden Munoz single and two walks loaded the bases for Boerne, but Gray Collins’ line drive toward second base was caught to end the game.
Jett Matthews hit a double in the fifth inning, giving Boerne runners on second and third with two outs, but Venezuela starting pitcher Willian’s Mora struck out Gage Steubing to get out of the jam.
Boerne finished the LLWS with a 3-2 record. Hurst hit .667 for the tournament while Doc Mogford hit .600 and drove in a team-high five runs. Mogford, Caden Guffey and Kole Newsom all hit home runs in the tournament.