Written and reported by Rebecca Whitnall
The San Marino 11-12-year-old Little League team's all-star run ended Tuesday at a game in Sherman Oaks against Encino.
The team, who'd taken on the name " Beast Mode," took a hard 12-1 loss after having battled a Pasadena America team July 7 for the District 17 championship title,according to a San Marino Little League All-Star website.
At the game in Sherman Oaks, the lopsided score led the game to be called in the fourth inning when the 12-1 score caused a 10-run mercy rule to be applied. A normal game at this level runs for six innings; however, Little League rules call for the game to end if the winning team is ahead by 10 runs after four innings.
Encino Coach Rodney Peete attributed the win partially to the players' history of playing together.
"They've played together for a long, long time," he said. "Some began when they were 6 or 7."
Though the players aren't quite old enough to advance to the 11-12 year old's Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA, Peete believes the players' success so far bodes well for next year.
"All the teams that do go to Williamsport seem to have a good run the year before. This is our good run and we'll be ready for next year," he said.
The team next moves on to the division tournament and likely will play this weekend, Peete said. Watch Encino Little League's website for game details.
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