MOLINE — The Rochelle Little League Junior All-Stars continued their surge through the 2017 Illinois Little League District 5 Sub-State Tournament this week, defeating Streator 5-2 on Tuesday before falling to Olney on Wednesday by a score of 7-0.

Rochelle is 2-1 through three sub-state games, and the boys will complete the tournament with a finale against Moline. Olney is the only team in the pool with a perfect record (4-0).

Streator

Both teams went scoreless through the first three innings, with Kyler Lara taking the mound for Rochelle and AJ Benning doing the pitching for Streator. Rochelle broke the 0-0 tie with a two-run fourth inning before adding three runs in the top of the fifth inning to take a 5-0 lead.

While the Rochelle offense found its groove, Lara continued to shut down the Streator bats. The right-hander took his shutout into the bottom of the seventh inning before surrendering his first run of the game. Lara struck out nine batters and allowed just four hits in six innings of work.

Garrett Burdin entered in relief to record the final three outs and secure the Rochelle victory. Burdin also totaled a team-high two RBIs, with Lara, Sam Hacaga and Ethan Albers each adding one RBI. Rochelle recorded seven hits including two from both Hacaga and Mike Schlenbecker.

Olney

Looking to defend their 2016 Illinois Little League Junior State Championship, Olney handed Rochelle its first loss of the postseason on Thursday to clinch a spot in the 2017 state tournament. Breccan Berns and Trevor Goodwin notched Rochelle’s two hits in the loss.