The McAllister Park National Little League team advanced to the Little League World Series on Thursday night with a 9-0 victory over the team from Lufkin, Texas, in the finals of the Southwest Regionals in Waco.
With the victory, McAllister Park returns to the big tournament for the first time since 2009.
Tyler Vitt threw a two-hit shutout, and the McAllister Park bats took care of the rest, pounding out nine runs on eight hits over five innings.
The 2012 Little League World Series begins next Thursday and runs through Aug. 26 in Williamsport, Pa. Eight U.S. teams and eight international teams qualify each year.
