In the first elimination game of day four of the 2018 Dick’s Sporting Goods Pony League World Series, Caribbean Zone Champion Yaguate, Dominican Republic continued to showcase its incredible offensive prowess, jumping out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, highlighted by Erick Hernandez’s three-run home run and sent Host Area Champion Youngstown, OH home by a score of 11-6.

Hernandez led the charge beyond his home run, going 2 for 3 with six RBI and is now just two RBI away from the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pony League World Series record which currently stand at 13 by Gurabo, Puerto Rico’s Vimael Machin in 2008.

All in all, five players from Yaguate had a multi-hit game and the 11 runs put the four game total of Yaguate to 56, just four runs shy of tying the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pony League World Series record of 60 set by former Caribbean Zone Champion Humacao, Puerto Rico in 2003.

Juan Caraballo took the victory on the mound allowing just one hit, two walks and struck out two over three innings of work. In relief, Juan Campusano allowed six runs, five hits, two walks and struck out one over two innings.

Andrew Kirkpatrick suffers the loss allowing five runs and five hits in just 1/3 of an inning pitched. Youngstown used two relievers who combined to allow six runs, eight hits, a walk and three strikeouts.

With the victory, Yaguate returns to the field later today with a game set to start at approximately 5 p.m. against Asia-Pacific Zone Champion Chinese Taipei in the division finals on the top half of the bracket. Should Yaguate lose, they are eliminated. If Yaguate wins they force an if necessary rematch tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.

Youngstown’s run ends with a 1-2 overall record in the 2018 Dick’s Sporting Goods Pony League World Series. Youngstown defeated European Zone Champion Vienna, Austria and lost to Chinese Taipei 4-0 and this game vs Yaguate.