Members of the Hastings-Vancouver All-Stars show off their hardware after defeating Prairie champion Lethbridge Southwest All-Stars to earn a berth in the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania later this month. (CBC News)
For the eighth straight year, Canada's Little League World Series representative is coming from B.C.
In Saturday's national final, the Hastings All-Stars exploded for a 10-run fourth inning to defeat Prairie champion Lethbridge Southwest All-Stars 11-1.
The win clinches a spot in the historic youth tournament that runs Aug. 16-26 in Williamsport, Pa.
Hastings came into the final having outscored opponents 63-1 over six games. But Lethbridge matched them early on and the score stood 1-1 after three innings.
With the score still tied in the fourth, Hastings' bats came alive. Thomas Neal and Steven Moretto both hit three-run homers while Lethbridge committed three errors.
Hastings' Cole Dalla-Zanna threw seven strikeouts and allowed just three hits and one run over four innings for the win. Lethbridge's Chase Florendine gave up six hits and eight runs in just over three innings to take the loss.
In Friday's semifinal action, Lethbridge beat Ontario's High Park Braves 4-3 while Hastings shut out the Atlantic champion Glace Bay Colonels 5-0.
It's Hastings first appearance since 2009, when they lost in the group stage.
