Lake Mary baseball seemed destined to return to Williamsport, Pennsylvania , to defend its 2024 Little League World Series championship .

This year's team not only rolled through the Florida state tournament, but were undefeated in the Southeast regional tournament and had outscored opponents, 106-4, in the two playoffs before the bottom of the sixth inning on Aug. 6.

Lake Mary carried a 4-0 lead into the home half of the last inning against Irmo, South Carolina, which Lake Mary had mercy-ruled, 14-0, on Sunday.

Alas, it was not meant to be. Lake Mary allowed five runs in the sixth to fall in the regional tournament final and miss its chance to return to Williamsport. Here's how it happened:

Leadoff hitter: No on, no outs

South Carolina hitter Palmer Steele draws a leadoff walk o

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