WILLIAMSPORT, Penn. – Lake Mary on Tuesday triumphed over Staten Island, New York, by a score of 6-1 at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
In Tuesday’s game, Lake Mary started out the game at 1-0, keeping a close lead over Staten Island for most of the night.
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Lake Mary’s D.J. Miesis helped turn things around when he hit a three-run home run in the top of the sixth inning, creating a huge cushion and bringing the scoreboard firmly in their favor.
In addition, Lake Mary got RBIs from Christopher Cikodroff and pitching ace J.J. Feliciano, the latter of whom was integral for the team’s win over South Dakota.
Garrett Rohozen and Lathan Norton also combined to pitch the 5-hitter, ending the game with Lake Mary’s overwhelming victory.
When asked where Tuesday’s home run ranks for Miesis, he responded, “Top 1,” adding, “It felt really good because my team was down, and we weren’t really hitting the ball.”
[MEET THE TEAM: Lake Mary All-Stars at the Little League World Series]
It was another strong performance as well by Lake Mary’s pitching staff. In his first start on the mound in Williamsport, Rohozen struck out five New York hitters in three innings.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long, and it just felt great,” Rohozen said. " It’s a dream come true.”
Just like he did in Lake Mary’s second Little League World Series game against Washington, Norton pitched the final three innings to secure the win.
“I go in there thinking that no one can hit off me, and if they do, it’s not going to be good contact,” Norton said. “I just do what I do.”
After the game, with all the fans cheering, the team slammed down the southeast plaque onto the next round – a date with Hawaii. Lake Mary head coach Jonathan Anderson said it’s one of his favorite moments of the Little League World Series.
“That’s a big moment right there,” Anderson said. “The energy that comes from those people is just spectacular.”
But the team isn’t off the chopping block yet.
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Lake Mary was off to a strong start last week, winning their first two games against Sioux Falls and Puyallup. However, the team was taken down by Boerne on Monday night — the first loss of the season for Lake Mary.
The tournament is double elimination, meaning that teams must lose twice before they’re out of the running. As a result, Lake Mary will be out of the World Series if they lose even one more game.
For now, Lake Mary moves on to its next game against Wailuku, Hawaii on Wednesday. That game is set to start at 7 p.m.
Twenty teams are competing in the Little League World Series: 10 regional champions in the U.S. and 10 international champions from across the world.
U.S. teams:
- Great Lakes: Hinsdale Little League from Hinsdale, Illinois
- Metro: South Shore Little League from Staten Island, New York
- Mid-Atlantic: Council Rock Newtown Little League from Newtown, Pennsylvania
- Midwest: Sioux Falls Little League from Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Mountain: Paseo Verde Little League from Henderson, Nevada
- New England: Salem Little League from Salem, New Hampshire
- Northwest: South Hill Little League from Puyallup, Washington
- Southeast: Lake Mary Little League from Lake Mary, Florida
- Southwest: Boerne Little League from Boerne, Texas
- West: Central East Maui Little League from Wailuku, Hawaii
International teams:
- Asia-Pacific: Kuei-Shan Little League from Taoyuan City, Chinese Taipei
- Australia: - Hills Little League from Sydney, New South Wales
- Canada: Whalley Little League from Surrey, British Columbia
- Caribbean: Aruba Center Little League from Santa Cruz, Aruba
- Cuba: Santa Clara Little League from Villa Clara, Cuba
- Europe-Africa: South Czech Republic Little League from Brno, Czech Republic
- Japan: Johoku Little League from Tokyo, Japan
- Latin America: Cardenales Little League from Barquisimeto, Venezuela
- Mexico: Matamoros Little League from Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Puerto Rico: Radames Lopez Little League from Guayama, Puerto Rico