Updated

There was no joy in the Bronx as the "Baby Bombers" lost to the Apopka, Florida team 8-2 in the U.S. championship at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

The Rolando Paulino team from the Bronx had high hopes for following in the championship footsteps of their Bronx neighbors — the New York Yankees — particularly after 12-year-old Danny Almonte threw a perfect game on August 18 to open the series with a 5-0 win over Apopka. That performance was the first perfect game in the Little League World Series in 44 years.

Saturday, Apopka steamrolled over the Bronx team with big hits from small players.

Brandon Brewer, 4-foor-10 and 81 pounds, hit a three-run homer over the centerfield wall to give Apopka a 3-1 lead in the third inning. Tyler Scanlon, who had been one of the runners brought home by Brewer's three-run shot, followed up in the fourth by sending a 240-foot fly over the left field wall that scored another three runs.

Florida pitcher Stuart Tapley, who was the losing pitcher last week during Almonte's perfect performance, got the win to bring his record to 2-1. Luilli Vinas took the loss for the Bronx.

Apopka's next game will be Sunday, where they'll face either Japan or the Netherlands Antilles for the championship. The other team will face the Bronx in a consolation game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.