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Hastings Little Leaguers - Day 3

The result wasn't what the Hastings Little League team came looking for on the international stage, however manager Vito Bordignon praised his team's courage in defeat.

The Hastings team, representing Canada at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pa., dropped a 4-3 decision to the Caribbean nation of Curacao Monday afternoon, eliminating the local team from the famed tournament.

"It was a strong showing for them," Bordignon told reporters at a news conference following the loss.

"They just had some opportunities to win the game and ... they took advantage of it. The kids played well, our pitcher [Cole Dalla-Zanna] did unbelievable, so I mean I'm ... happy with the effort, that's for sure.

"I just told them that they had a great tournament and to keep their heads up and be proud of representing Canada well. We had opportunities to win today and we had opportunities to win yesterday, but the thing is they played hard. They didn't give up and they put a good showing and I think they should be proud of what they did."

Taking to the mound for Hastings, Dalla-Zanna, having turned 13 years of age on Aug. 2, allowed four runs - only one earned - on three hits spread out over 5.1 innings pitched.

The left-handed hurler showed great command of his pitches, with nine strikeouts and only one base on balls allowed.

However, the last hit he did give up had the largest impact on the game.

Mychellon Jansen capped off a three-run top of the fifth inning with a solo home run to centre field to put the Caribbean team up by what eventually stood as the winning run.

Down to their remaining three outs, Hastings threatened in the bottom half of the sixth, with two runners on base and one out, but Curacao pitcher Railison Bentura managed to get Carson Ho to pop out to the first baseman and Matteo Porcellato to ground out to third, ending the game and Hastings' run in Williamsport.

Hastings opened the tournament with a thrilling back-and-forth 13-9 win over Mexico, but lost 8-3 to Panama on Sunday.

Despite giving up the first run of Monday's game on a Mildward Baranco solo shot to centre field, Hastings battled back to take a two-run lead into the fifth inning.

Steven Moretto doubled home Kolby Buljevic in the third inning, tying the game, before Noah Hanson-Stafford propelled the locals into the lead with a two-run blast to right field in the fourth.

"They were pretty excited," said Bordignon. "They could see that they had a chance to win."

The 2012 Hastings team is the second from the Vancouver-Burnaby catchment area - which runs from Sperling Avenue in Burnaby, west to Main Street in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, south to Lougheed Highway and north to Burrard Inlet - to make it to Williamsport in the last three years.

Bordignon also managed the 2009 Hastings team that earned a berth in the Little League World Series.

"Both experiences were very good for me and the [2009] kids, and very good for these kids as well," said the Canadian manager. "It's a wonderful feeling to be here.

"The camaraderie, you see these kids and the other kids, it's unbelievable. I mean, they're kids that they'll never meet again but now they'll be friends for life and so it's a wonderful experience for these kids. Right now they're not feeling too well, but tomorrow I'm sure ... they'll be among their friends again."

Courtesy of Cam Tucker - Post Media News
Photo courtesy of Matt Slocum