TAYLOR, Mich. — Two swings were all it took to dash the dreams of the squad from Hilo.

Using the power of the long ball, the International champions from Curacao beat Hilo, the United States champions, 5-2, last night in the championship game of the Little League Junior League World Series for 13- and 14-year-olds.

Alexander Rodriguez hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to break a 2-all tie. Curacao also scored its first two runs on a homer.

"Just one pitch separated these teams, and separated this game." Hilo manager Kaha Wong said. "They out-hit us I guess, but we stuck in there."

Hilo wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. Ridge Hoopii-Haslam singled, stole second and scored on an error on a ground ball by Curacao second baseman Shurensley Daantie.

Wong wanted come out aggressive and set the tone early by stealing bases and moving runners.

"I wanted to get the lead early because we were visitors." Wong said. "I wanted to get as much runs as we could early because I know Curacao is a good hitting team."

Curacao would show how good of a hitting team it was in the bottom half of the first inning with a two-run home run by right fielder Sherman Lacrus to take a 2-1 lead.

Hilo evened things up at 2 in the third inning with an RBI single by right fielder Taylor Goo that scored Kean Wong.

"I just got lucky at the right time." said Goo, who finished the game 2 for 4. "It's a team sport and everyone has a job to do."

The game turned in the bottom of fifth inning when Rodriguez hit his three-run home run with one out off Hawai'i starter Ekolu Martins, who had put two runners on with walks.

Hilo brought the tying run to the plate with two on in the seventh inning. Martins launched a ball toward the center field fence, but it was caught on the warning track ending the game, and Hilo's championship dreams.

"I had two guys on base and I had my power hitter up," Wong said. "Everything was falling into place, but we came up inches short. That's the game of baseball, it's inches."

Rodriguez also was the winning pitcher, allowing two runs, four hits, striking out five and walking two in 5 2/3 innings.

Hilo was trying to become the fifth Hawai'i team to win the Junior League World Series championship. Pearl City won last year's tournament.

HILO ROSTER

Randall Iha, Jordan Jinbo, Connor Yoshioka, Quintin Torres-Costa, Kian Kurokawa, John Chiquita, Chayce Kaaua, Ridge Hoopii-Haslam, Charles Matson, Kean Wong, Dean Hosaka, Taylor Goo, Jayce Carvalho and Ekolu Martins. The team's manager is Kaha Wong assisted by Norman Iha and Kolten Wong.

HILO (4-2) 101 000 0—2 7 3

CURACAO (6-0) 200 030 X—5 4 1

Alexander Rodriguez, Ezequiel Garcia (6) and Phildrick Llewellyn. Ekolu Martins, Quintin Torres-Costa (6) and Ridge Hoopii-Haslam, Dean Hosaka (3), Hoopii-Haslam (4). W—Rodriguez. L—Martins.

Leading hitters—Curacao: Sherman Lacruz 2-3, 2-run homer; Rodriguez 3-run homer. Hawai'i: Hoopii Haslam 2-4; Taylor Goo 3-4, RBI.