WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania. – Boerne’s magic carpet ride into history ended on Saturday in the U.S. championship game of the 2024 Little League Baseball World Series.

The Boerne Little League All-Stars were faced with a barrage of runs in the final two innings of the game. The team from Lake Mary, Florida, which had defeated Boerne in an earlier round of the LLBWS, scored nine times in the fifth and sixth innings to defeat Boerne 10-7 on Saturday at Howard J. Lamade Stadium in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

A win on Saturday would have given Boerne a chance at the Lone Star State’s first Little League Baseball World Series title in 58 years.

Boerne had Julian Hurst, his ace, on the mound. His start Saturday began to mirror his 10-strikeout, complete-game performance against the Florida team on Aug. 19.

Hurst played well in the first three innings. He didn’t allow a single hit and struck out four batters. On offense, Doc Mogford hit a two-run double that increased Boerne’s lead to 4-0 after three innings.

After allowing his first run in the fourth inning, Hurst allowed a double early in the fifth inning and began to feel a little uncomfortable.

During a visit to the mound by Boerne manager Justin Newson, Hurst was recorded on an ABC microphone worn by Newson saying he was having trouble with “the back of his shoulder.” Hurst then told Newson he was healthy enough to stay in the game.

However, Hurst was not as sharp on the mound after his injury. Newson, still leading 4-2, took Hurst out of the game and replaced him with Mogford.

Mogford allowed two consecutive singles that forced a 4-4 tie. The second of those singles hit Mogford in the leg and forced him out of the game. Newson’s son, Kole, filled in for Boerne when there were runners on first and third base.

Kole Newson struck out Hunter Alexander, the first batter he faced, but the game wasn’t over yet. Unbeknownst to Newson, who had his back to him, Florida baserunner Teraj Alexander stole home base, giving Lake Mary its first lead.

Trailing 4-5, the Boerne offense fought back in the fifth inning. Gray Collins tied the game at 5-5 with a scoring single. A wild pitch from Florida brought in another run and put Boerne back in the lead at 6-5.

Another Florida error at home plate following a strikeout by Cooper Hastings allowed Hurst, who remained in the game at first base, to score and Hastings to make it to first base. Boerne took a 7-5 lead into the sixth and final inning of the game.

Due to another unexpected injury before the sixth inning, Kaleb Christ replaced Kole Newson on the mound. Christ was the fourth different Boerne pitcher used since the start of the fifth inning.

Christ had all bases loaded in the sixth inning after two walks and a double without anyone being struck out. After a lineout, outfielder Jacob Bibaud from Lake Mary, Florida, scored a run with a single. Liam Morrisey then tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right field to make it 7-7.

With two outs in the sixth inning, pitcher Luis Calo of Lake Mary, Florida, hit a two-run double in a 2-2 count.

Florida took a 9-7 lead and held on to it from there. Boerne had a single by shortstop Jett Matthews, but he was removed from the basepaths by a game-ending double play.

Boerne has a chance to score one last victory in the third-place match against Venezuela on Sunday at 9 a.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

Lake Mary, Florida, will face Taiwan in the LLBWS finals on Sunday at 2 p.m. The title game will be broadcast live on KSAT 12.

More coverage of Boerne at the Little League Baseball World Series on KSAT: