Doc Mogford, left, of Boerne, Texas, slides into home under the bat of Venezuelan pitcher Willian Mora, who scores on a passed ball during the first inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series tournament in South Williamsport, Pa., Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
For Texas, the summer ended with two tough losses on consecutive days at the Little League World Series for the Southwest Regional champions.
Venezuela, champions of the Latin American region, return home as the third-best team in the world after defeating Texas 4-3 in a close consolation match on Saturday morning.
Texas quickly took a 3-0 lead in the third inning, but Venezuela remained patient and scored twice in the second half of the second inning and added two more in the bottom of the third to take the lead and never relinquish it.
Venezuela defeated a strong Texas team 7-4.
Jesus Diaz led Venezuela with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, while Diego Biarreta hit a double. Texas was led by Jett Matthews’ double. He was the only Texas player with an extra-base hit, as Venezuela’s Willian Mora and Samuel Carrasquel shared the mound and Texas did not allow a player with multiple hits.
Mora had an outstanding game, throwing 5 1/3 innings before being relieved at the 85-pitch mark, striking out three players while allowing four singles, no earned runs and no walks.
Caden Guffey threw 3 2/3 innings before being replaced by Cooper Hastings for Texas.
