EASLEY, S.C. — This game figured to be the one that proved whether Kent County would contend for the Big League baseball World Series title.

District I didn’t get what it wanted most — a victory — on Saturday night.

But Kent County’s 2-1 loss to California in the U.S. winners’ bracket finals clearly showed that it could compete at this level.

District I (2-1) has to turn around and face South Carolina (2-1) today at 4 p.m. The winner then takes on California (3-0) in the U.S. championship game on Monday.

The overall championship game is slated for Tuesday night.

Saturday’s hard-fought loss snapped a five-game winning streak for District dating back to the Eastern Regional.

California broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the top of the seventh. The West champions strung together a hit batter, a sacrifice bunt, a single and a sacrifice fly to score the run.

Kent County managed just three hits off of California pitcher Riley Jones. He struck out four and walked only one while throwing 92 pitches.

District I had a chance to break the 1-1 tie in the sixth when Dover’s Tevin Thomas walked and Smyrna-Clayton’s Corey Everage later doubled to put runners at second and third with two outs. But California got a groundout to end the threat.

Camden-Wyoming’s Travis Dill pitched the first six innings before reaching his pitch limit of 105. The left-hander allowed just one run and five hits while striking out six and walking only one.

Sean Hanhauser (Dover) pitched the seventh. He allowed only one hit.

After a scoreless first three innings, both teams scored a run in the fourth.

Trailing 1-0, District I answered back in the bottom of the inning. Dover’s Kendall Small got Kent County’s first hit when he doubled to right.

Everage followed with a bunt single that moved Small to third. Small then tied the contest when he scored on a double-play groundball hit by Dill.