EASLEY—In the 2008 Big League World Series, the team from Santiago, Dominican Republic was 3-0 in pool play. A fourth game against Puerto Rico, was postponed due to weather, then canceled outright when officials noted that the International Pool Championship game would be between those two teams, regardless of the results of the game that had been postponed.

Santiago lost the semi-finals to Puerto Rico, and left Easley with just one loss in the tournament, but no Big League World Series title.

Of the four teams that played in the semi-finals last year, Santiago is the only one that earned a spot to return to the BLWS in 2009. Puerto Rico, which has an automatic bid last year, needed to win the Latin American Regional this year. Santiago topped Puerto Rico 5-4 in the championship game, gaining a measure of revenge for last year’s loss in the BLWS semi-finals.

South Carolina District 7, last years’ Southeast Regional champion and eventual Big League World Series winner, lost in its state championship game to S.C. District 6. Florida District 17 eliminated South Carolina from the Southeast Regional Championship and eventually then defeated the host team, Florida District 21, to earn a spot in the 2009 Big League World Series.

The U.S. West was represented by a different California team last year, District 47. California District 13, from Thousand Oaks, Calif., represents the West this year, and with a 3-0 record so far in Pool play, looks likely to be one of the four teams in the 2009 BLWS semi-finals.

Friday afternoon, the Dominican Republic faced Mexico in pool play, perhaps hoping to make a statement that this year’s team is not going to be satisfied with just qualifying for the semi-finals.

If that was the goal, they achieved it with a 14-2 victory over their fellow team from Latin America.

Mexico actually scored first in the game. In the first inning, leadoff batter Brian Ayala got on base with a walk. A bunt advanced Ayala to second base, then a double by Arturo Carrera drove Ayala in to give Mexico a 1-0 lead.

Mexico threatened again in the top of the second, loading the bases with one out. But the Dominican Republic sent Victor Pena in to pitch in relief of starter Noel Martinez. Pena earned a strike out and a ground-out to get his team out of the inning without giving up a run.

Santiago got on the board in the bottom of the second. The team quickly loaded the bases as Gilbert Jimenez and Darlin Siri each reach base due to errors. Jean Carlos Marmol then bunted for a single, and all runners made to base safely, loading the bases.

Gilbert Jimenez scored on a wild pitch. Then Winston Contreras reached base on another error, allowing Seri to score.

Marmol then scored on a ground out that also sent Winston Contreras to second base. Winston Contreras then moved to third base on a balk.

Franyelyn Diaz then earned a base-on-balls, giving Santiago runners on first and third. Manuel Tejada sent both runners home with a double, but then was picked off at second for the inning’s final out. Still, the Dominican Republic led 5-1 at the end of two innings.

Mexico was able to get two on base through walks in the top of the third, but was not able to score.

Santiago added three more runs in the bottom of the second. Gilbert Jimenez started things going with a one-out single. Darlin Seri and Jean Carlos Marmol each earned walks to load the bases. Juan Burgos hit a single into centerfield to drive in two more runs. A third run was scored when Marmol reached home plate on a throwing error. The Dominican Republic led 8-1 after three innings.

Neither team had a base-runner in the fourth inning.

In the top of the fifth, Arturo Carrera led off with a double. Alejundro Alvarado drove Carrera in with a single. Unfortunately, that was the last run Mexico could conjure up.

In the bottom of the fifth with two outs, Jean Carolos Marmole and Winston Contreras each reached base on walks, then Juan Burgos homered to increase the Dominican Republic’s lead to 11-2.

Victor Pena then singled, and Odalis Jemenez came in to pinch run for Pena. Franyelyn Diaz then singled, giving the Dominican Republic runners on first and second. Manuel Trajeda then homered, increasing Santiago’s lead to 14-2.

With the Dominican Republic leading by more than 10 after the fifth inning, the game was called.

The Dominican Republic improved its record to 3-0 in pool play, and only has Guam left to play Sunday in pool play. Mexico dropped to 1-1 and is scheduled to play Canada 9 a.m. Saturday.