WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - In a weekend full of firsts for the Canyon Lake All-Stars, Cale Fierro added one more.

Fierro became the first player from the state to hit a home run in the Little League World Series when he smacked a lead-off blast to left field to open the fifth inning.

"It is really cool to be the only person from South Dakota to hit a home run," Fierro said. "I knew it was gone."

Fierro's big game came in Canyon Lake's best performance at the LLWS which ended in a 6-4 loss to Waipahu, Hawaii.

Fierro collected his team's first hit of the game in the top of the fourth and scored the South Dakota champion's first run of the day.

His big blast tied the game at four, but he would have given it up if his team could have gotten its first win of the World Series.

"It was definitely fun, but I definitely would have rather had my team win rather than hit the home run," he said.

Fierro's third home run in the postseason almost never happened, according to Canyon Lake head coach Doug Simons.

"We almost took Cale out before the start of the inning because we had another player we had to get in," Simons said. "But we took Jesse (Riddle) out so he could warm up to pitch."

Fierro made his coach look smart as he parked the curveball over the fence. He ran out of the box hard with his head down and never slowed as he rounded the bases, and got congratulated by his teammates who were waiting for him at home plate.

"I was pretty loose and I was just glad that it got the team going," he said.

"He tied the game and he was more excited about that then hitting the home run," Simons said. "We battled and we made a good team fight for it."

Fierro didn't hesitate when asked what he will remember most from his first trip to Williamsport.

"The home run," he said.

It's hard to forget your great 'firsts.'