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Florida defeats Nevada thanks to a four-run first inning and advances to US Championship game

By Chris Masse 6 min read

Three wins in three days has Lake Mary, Florida one victory from capturing a national championship.

Lake Mary scored four first inning runs and Teraj Alexander provided brilliant relief pitching as it defeated Henderson, Nevada, 6-3 Thursday night at Lamade Stadium and reached Saturday’s U.S. Championship. There, Lake Mary will play Boerne, Texas after winning three straight elimination games.

"This is what we wanted to do," Lake Mary manager Jonathan Anderson said. "This is where we wanted to be. We said all along we’re not done. We just need to finish the job."

Saturday’s game will be a rematch of Monday’s game when Boerne won, 4-1. Lake Mary has come fighting back since then and brings in a lot of momentum following three consecutive hard-fought victories.

As it did against Hawaii Wednesday night, Lake Mary started strong and built a 4-0 lead only for the opponent to come storming back to make it a one-run game. Again, though, Lake Mary maintained its composure and became the first Florida team since Apopka in 2001 to reach the U.S. Finals. JJ Feliciano and Garrett Rohozen homered and Alexander threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

Feliciano, the team’s ace and likely starter Saturday, closed out the game, earning the save with by inducing a game-ending flyout to center fielder Liam Morrisey with the tying run at the plate.

Lake Mary scored four runs in the the top of the first and looked poised to break things open early. Nevada, however, answered with three runs in the bottom of the second and seized the momentum.

Instead of buckling, Lake Mary held its ground as it did against Hawaii. Lathan Norton threw a perfect second inning before Alexander took over and owned his moment in the spotlight.

"It felt really good. It was great and exciting to pitch in front of that many people," Alexander said. "It made my super happy and excited."

Feliciano hit his second Series home run in the third inning, putting Lake Mary up, 5-3. Rohozen followed in the sixth inning, smashing his second home run in three games as Lake Mary went up, 6-3.

Feliciano did his damage after taking some advice from his father. He turned words into action and his drive helped restore momentum for Lake Mary.

"My dad said to step on the plate and protect the outside," Feliciano said. "I was up on the plate and it was a curveball outside and I just drove it."

The Southeast champions have heated up offensively after a slow start and have benefited from playing four straight days, collecting eight hits against Nevada. Only an amazing catch by right fielder Dominic Laino prevented a third Lake Mary home run as well with Laino reaching over the wall and taking one away from Landon Bono.

Nevada’s remarkable run ended but not before it left its mark at the Series, winning two games and finishing third on the country. The Mountain champions from the Paseo Verde Little League came roaring back from Lake Mary’s early haymaker and landed one of their own.

The first five batters reached base and even the first out was a productive one with Parker Soranaka’s sacrifice fly, pulling Nevada within, 4-3. Caleb Gomez ignited the rally with a lead-off single before Caleb Gomez doubled and Wyatt Erickson was hit by a pitch.

Oliver Johnson then fouled off three two-strike pitches and hit an RBI single before Noah Letalu followed with an RBI single.

Before its last two games, Nevada had won six straight games going back to regionals. It was the second straight team from Henderson to reach the Series and its third-place finish is the second-best ever for a Nevada team at the Series.

"Great teams are player run and that’s how this team was. It was a special group," Nevada manager Adam Johnson said. "We felt like coming into this we had a team that could compete and we definitely did that. I’ll be replaying this forever."

Nevada’s opening act Thursday was a near repeat of Lake Mary’s performance in the top of the first when the first six batters reached base. Chase Anderson, Feliciano and Rohozen opened the games with walks before Bono hit an RBI single, scoring the game’s first run. DJ Mieses then ripped a two-run single and Jacob Bibaud an RBI single as Lake Mary built a 4-0 lead before an out was recorded.

Russell McGee, however, excelled in relief and induced a grounder and a double play to keep Lake Mary from doing more damage.

McGee was one of 12 players who relentlessly worked hard all summer. This team had been building toward this opportunity the past four years and it cashed in big-time. Nevada will not leave with a national championship, but it sure reached some lofty heights.

"I can’t say enough about them. The hardest part of me is knowing I’ll never get to coach this team again," Johnson said. "The opportunity to play for a U.S. championship is gone but they accomplished so much."

After Norton worked his scoreless second inning, Alexander made his first Series pitching performance a memorable one. A night earlier, Lake Mary manager Jonathan Anderson said Alexander might throw against Nevada and that he was outstanding.

Alexander proved him right, neutralizing a dangerous offense which often has worn out pitchers. The right-hander threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings, scattering three hits, striking out five and walking none. Alexander also threw 40 of 52 pitches for strikes after Norton threw 29 of 33 for strikes as both, pounded the zone.

"Teraj fills up the zone," Anderson said. "He struck quick. He got ahead early and he finished when he had his chance to."

Nevada did not go away, though. Gunner Gaudin hit a one-out single and Caleb Gomez a two-out single after fighting off two, two-strike pitches.

McGee then worked a full count and gave the next pitch a long drive, but Morrisey was there in deep center field to make the catch and seal the win.

"It means everything," Anderson said about going to the national championship. "No one is as prepared as this team. They work."

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