Coconut Creek All-Stars win sectional on tiebreaker

Itwasn’t their preferred route, but the Coconut Creek Little League Baseball All-Stars will take it all the way to St. Cloud.

Despite a 5-3 loss to Liberty City Optimist on Sunday at Plantation Central Park — which left all three teams in the Southeast Florida Section 8Tournament that included host Plantation with 1-1 records — Coconut Creek was declared the winner on a run-differential formula.

And while he and the boys from Sabal Pines Park are thrilled that their dream of Williamsport, Pa., and the Little League World Series is still alive, Coconut Creek manager Ed Mercado knows there is work to be done before Friday’s state opener.

“That’swhy it’s a tournament and not one game, but having said that we’re going to learn from this [loss] and practice hard for states,” Mercado said.

Mercado commended the pitching of Liberty City’s Alejandro Perez, who struck out 10 Coconut Creek batters and scattered four hits.

“The young man from Liberty City really shut us down, and our kids have been good hitters all season so I know they are not happy about today,” Mercado continued.

“We’ll make sure they’re on time [with their swings], load early and don’t get cheated at the plate.”

One bright spot for Coconut Creek occurred in the third inning of Sunday’s gamewhenBraydenSlade connected for a two-run homer and a 2-1 lead before Liberty City struck for three runs in its half of the inning to make it 4-2.

The District 10/Broward County representatives join West Boynton Beach from District 7/Palm Beach County at states.

It marks the first time twoMajor Division (Williamsport level) teams from southeast Florida have been among the final eight since 2012.