Eleven teams from all over the world came to Easley, S.C. for the 2008 Big League Baseball World Series, but the team with the shortest drive came away with the biggest prize – the World Series Championship.

South Carolina’s District 7 captured the title with a 5-4 win over Puerto Rico District 1, scoring all five runs in its final at-bat.

Puerto Rico tallied two runs in the fourth inning and extended the lead to 4-0 with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, before South Carolina rallied behind four errors and three hits, highlighted by a two-run single by winning pitcher Michael Roth.

Pool play began with five region champions from the United States and the host team from South Carolina District 1. Representing the U.S. regions were: California District 46 (West); Louisiana District 5 (Southwest); New Jersey District 18 (East); Michigan District 9 (Central); and South Carolina District 7 (South). The International teams were represented by Saipan Little League (Asia-Pacific), District 3 British Columbia (Canada); Germany District 2 (Europe, Middle East and Africa); Los Bravos de Pontezuela Santiago for the Dominican Republic (Latin America) and District 1 Puerto Rico.

To reach the title game, South Carolina District 7 defeated California District 46, 8-6; and Puerto Rice District 1 beat Latin America, 9-6.

South Carolina’s victory was the fifth in six years, but the first for District 7.