MARION — Colt World Series host and defending champion Marion rallied late to beat Monterrey, Mexico 5-4 to remain unbeaten in the tournament.

Marion trailed 2-0 and 3-2 but scored three in the seventh as Jack Ford’s two-out, two-run single gave Marion it’s first lead at 5-3. Monterrey scored a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Noah Arnold closed the door.

Marion will face the winner of Monterrey and Greensboro, North Carolina at 8:00 Monday night in the finals of the top half of the bracket. A Marion win would send the hosts back to the finals. A Monterey or Greensboro win would force a second game tomorrow for the right to advance to the finals.

Southern Illinois 14 Saga, Japan 8
The area’s second team, Southern Illinois, stayed alive in the bottom bracket with a 14-8 win over Saga, Japan. The SI team will face Harlingen, Texas at 11:00 Monday morning in an elimination game, with the winner coming back to face Covina, California at 5:00.