ROCHELLE — A loss to close out the regular season didn’t prevent Kiwanis Club from turning in a winning effort Tuesday evening when the boys battled First National Bank in the opening round of the 2017 Rochelle Little League Major League Championship Series.

Brandon Moody went 2-for-3 with three runs scored to lead No. 3 seed Kiwanis Club in its 11-4 victory over No. 6 seed First National Bank. Josh Lloyd went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Breydan Lowery reached base three times and closed the game on the pitcher’s mound.

Kiwanis Club (8-7) took a 2-0 lead over First National Bank (0-16) in the first inning, with two triples by Lloyd and Lowery igniting the team’s offense. Ivon Lopez and Moody each doubled in the second inning to stretch Kiwanis Club’s lead to 4-0. First National Bank’s Omar Hueramo reached on an error in the top half of the second inning, but the boys were unable to cash in.

First National Bank did find its rhythm in the top of the third inning, however, with the boys scoring four runs to tie the game 4-4. Jack Anderson began the outburst with a triple, and after Danny Reyes walked, Xavier Villalobos singled before Evan Stinnett reached on an error. John Green also singled to keep the First National Bank offense going.

Braden Behrens walked to begin the bottom of the third inning, and singles by Travis Russell and Lucas Smardo increased Kiwanis Club’s lead to 5-4. The No. 3 seed added another run in the fourth to jump head 6-4 before piling on five runs in the fifth inning to put the game out of First National Bank’s reach. Smardo doubled to spark the Kiwanis Club attack, and Smardo was one of five consecutive players who crossed home plate including Lopez, Lloyd, Moody and Grant Messer, who doubled for his first hit of the contest.

Kiwanis Club will face No. 2 seed Firemen in the second round of the championship bracket.