MICHAEL PISTELLA Hancock 9-year-old all-star Riley Jones releases a pitch in the first inning of his team’s 11-0 loss to South Fort Myers Friday night at Rutenberg Park. More photos from the game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

For each all-star team, it’s unclear how long their tournament run will last.

Giovany Lorenzo of the South Fort Myers 9-year-old team realizes that and wants his team to embrace the opportunity each time they take the field.

“You only have one chance in all-stars,” Lorenzo said. “It’s like a dream.”

Through the first three games of pool play in the District 9 Little League Tournament, South Fort Myers came ready to play. They’ve showcased their skills and strong depth, and it’s resulted in three wins.

The latest was an 11-0 victory over Hancock Friday at Rutenberg Park. Both teams entered with 2-0 records, but South prevailed in four innings.

MICHAEL PISTELLA Hancock All-Star Garrett Morgan (10) motors into third during the first inning against South Fort Myers Friday night. More photos from the game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

Lorenzo led the offensive attack, going 3-for-3 with a double, triple and three RBI.

South played outstanding defense and used five different pitchers, who combined for a three-hit shutout.

“This was our best game ever,” Lorenzo said. “We had no errors and were able to put the ball in play.”

Both South (3-0) and Hancock (2-1) advance to Saturday’s semifinals from Pool 1. Cape Coral National (0-3), which lost 12-7 to Punta Gorda (1-2) Friday night, were eliminated.

Buckingham (3-0) won Pool 2 with a 22-0 victory over DeSoto (0-3) and Fort Myers American (2-1) advances with a 4-3, eight-inning win over Port Charlotte National (1-2).

MICHAEL PISTELLA Hancock All-Star Michael Barnes flies out to right field during the third inning of his team’s 11-0 loss to South Fort Myers Friday. More photos from the Little League District 9 9-year-old All-Star Tournament game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

Hancock began tournament play Monday with a 14-4 win over Cape National and then outlasted Punta Gorda 12-11 in eight innings Wednesday. That game forced Hancock to use up several of their top pitchers.

“That was a dogfight. It took three hours and went two extra innings,” Hancock coach Ray Adkins said, “but it took its toll. We knew we were running into a buzzsaw (against South).”

South has taken an unusual approach to its pitching rotation, which continued Friday. They started Josh Ashby in the first inning and then pitched Lorenzo and Danny Cunningham in the second and third, respectively.

Grant Boland started the fourth inning, getting two outs, and then a fifth pitcher, Tate McMenamy, came in and finished the game.

South manager Howard Gold explained that as long as a pitcher doesn’t throw more than 20 pitches, they’re eligible to pitch the following day.

MICHAEL PISTELLA Hancock All-Star Travis Rice smacks the ball right at the first baseman in the second inning of his team’s 11-0 loss to South Fort Myers in the Little League District 9 9-year-old Tournament game at Rutenberg Park. More photos from Friday’s game are available online at: cu.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com.

This gives them plenty of options for Saturday’s semifinal at noon at Rutenberg Park against Fort Myers American. The other semifinal finds Hancock at Buckingham at noon.

The championship is at 1 p.m. Sunday at either Hancock or Buckingham Park.

Gold hopes his team can build off their play, thus far.

“They’re growing up before my eyes,” he said. “It’s very rewarding to see.”

Hancock threatened to grab the early lead in the top of the first. Garrett Morgan led off with a walk and Bryce Adkins followed with a single.

After a wild pitch moved both runners up to second and third, South made two clutch plays to prevent runs.

Hancock’s Stephen Berquist grounded back to the mound and Ashby threw to the catcher, Lorenzo, for one out. Hancock tried a double steal, but Cunningham, at shortstop, threw home for a second out at the plate.

South went to work offensively in the bottom of the first. The first six batters reached base and all of them eventually scored. Ashby had an RBI double and Lorenzo and Jake Munnings delivered RBI singles.

Hancock looked to answer in the top of the second, but South made key defensive plays, including a diving catch by first baseman Preston Moore.

South continued to add to its lead. Lorenzo smacked a two-run double in the second and added a triple in the third. He scored on that play after a throwing error. Boland also connected for a triple in the third.

Morgan had one of three hits for Hancock and the shortstop made a running catch in shallow left field in the third.

South continued its strong defense in the fourth. Lorenzo threw out a runner attempting to steal for the final out of the game.

Hancock 000 0 – 0 3 2

South FM 632 2 – 11 6 0

W – Josh Ashby. L – Riley Jones

2B – Ashby (S), Giovany Lorenzo (S). 3B – Grant Boland (S), Lorenzo (S).