ROCK FALLS — The Rochelle Little League Junior All-Stars rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie their game against Evergreen Park this past Saturday, but it wasn’t enough for the boys to keep their postseason run alive at the 2017 Illinois Little League State Championship.

After Rochelle scored one run in the third inning and three runs in the fourth inning, Evergreen Park responded with two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings while shutting down the Junior All-Stars over their final three frames to win by a score of 8-4. Rochelle finished the state championship in fourth place.

Garrett Burdin took the mound to start the game for Rochelle, firing four and two-thirds innings and striking out three Evergreen Park batters. Ben Harvey tossed one and two-thirds innings of relief, with Kyler Lara hurling the final inning of the game.

Breccan Berns reached on a fielder’s choice in the third inning before stealing second base and advancing to third on a wild pitch. Berns scored Rochelle’s first run when Spencer Warborg reached on an error, and Lara singled to keep the Junior All-Stars going. Mike Schlenbecker walked to load the bases, but Rochelle was unable to score any more runs.

Ethan Albers walked to reach base with one out the bottom of the fourth inning, and Albers scored on an RBI single by Burdin to cut Evergreen Park’s lead to 4-2. Berns doubled to score Burdin, and Berns stole third base before scoring on an error to tie the game at 4-4.

Schlenbecker doubled with two outs in the seventh inning, but Schlenbecker’s hit was Rochelle’s only base knock over the final three frames.