HOBART | These kids just want to win state.

Hobart scored early and often against Portage to win the Junior League (13) District 1 championship 14-2 in five innings Friday night at the Hobart Little League fields.

Hobart was led by Juan Lamar, who had two hits and three runs scored.

"I'm excited to go to state," Lamar said. "We want to do good at state. This is my first year winning district, let alone going to state."

Chris Nodd pitched a solid game for Hobart, allowing only three hits over five innings and giving up two runs.

"It was a good game," Nodd said. "I pitched all right. I felt a little nervous in the beginning, but after a while, I felt better."

Hobart jumped out to a 6-0 lead after one. Lamar had an RBI single in the first before coming around to score. Hobart's Kyle Guernsey also had an RBI single and scored a run in the first.

"I think we actually were in this this year, because we practice hard," Guernseg said. "This is the third year in a row we came here, and we finally won this one. It's great."

Hobart added three runs in the second and five more runs in the third.

"The kids finally started gelling together," Hobart coach Ken Haluska said.

"We played well as a team, and we beat a great team in Portage today. These kids earned it. It's been three years we've made it to the finals, and we finally broke through. I didn't do anything. It's all the kids right now."