Little League All Stars: Palm Harbor Loses to Clearwater 5-4

The Clearwater 10 and 11 year-old All Stars had won five games in the last three weeks en route to the District 12 championship game, and three of those victories were of the come-from-behind variety.

Monday night against Palm Harbor, things were no different.

Clearwater rallied to score the tying run in the top of the sixth inning on a three base error, then plated the winning run after loading the bases in the top of the seventh to earn an emotional 5-4 victory.

“Our motto is never say die. These kids lived it tonight,” Clearwater manager Sean Cordner-James said after the game.  “They keep fighting till the bitter end.”

Early on, it didn’t appear as if a comeback would be necessary.

Clearwater took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, and starting pitcher Drew Hansen was in cruise control, allowing just two hits through three innings.

But Palm Harbor got a pair of runs in the fourth on a two-run homer by catcher Evan Kulyk, then took a 4-3 lead when a single by Kyle White rolled to the centerfield wall in the bottom of the fifth.

In the top of the sixth, with the opportunity for Clearwater to win the title for the first time in six seasons, Avery Cordner-James drew a leadoff walk and was replaced by pinch runner Devin Ortega. 

As Timmy Rodriguez struck out against Andrew Olivera, Ortega broke for second. The throw from Kulyk sailed into centerfield, and Ortega raced around the bases and just beat the throw home to tie the game at four.

In the seventh, two walks and a single loaded the bases with no outs for Clearwater, and one out later Gabe Adams hit a hard shot to the shortstop, who had no play as the winning run crossed the plate.

Palm Harbor loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame, but starting pitcher Tommy Gomez took a called strike three on a pitch that appeared to be low and outside, sending the Clearwater crowd into a frenzy while the Palm Harbor side shouted in disbelief.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Cordner-James said. “I tell these kids win or lose, act like champions. Tonight we are.”