EASLEY — It came down to the last out.

Trailing 5-3 in the seventh inning, the host team had the bases loaded with two outs. The U.S. West team from Thousand Oaks, Calif., chose to go with relief pitcher Tyler Karp.

Karp came in and struck out the batter, ending the game and giving the host team a loss in its first game of the 2009 Big League World Series.

The game was a classic, but it was just the latest in a rivalry between Thousand Oaks and the host team that started back in 2003, when the California team lost to S.C. District One 6-3 in the championship game.

Two years later, Thousand Oaks and the host team met again in the finals, with S.C. District One winning 10-5.

In 2006, the host team lost to Puerto Rico in the semi-finals. Thousand Oaks then defeated Puerto Rico 10-0 in the BLWS championship game to take the title.

In 2007, the host team defeated Thousand Oaks 10-0 in the semi-finals, then topped Puerto Rico 11-3 in the championship game.

Eight of the nine years that the BLWS has been held in Easley, a team from California has represented the U.S. West. Five of those times, the team has been Thousand Oaks.

S.C. District One fell behind 5-0 after a bad third inning.

Austin Alvizo singled for Thousand Oaks to start the inning. Alvizo moved to second base on a wild pitch. After a California out, Hayden Croenbold singled to center field, driving Alvizo home for the first run of the game.

Thousand Oaks then loaded the bases with singles from Dustin Kahle and Danny Leon. Matt Toycznski then hit a grand slam home run, giving California a 5-0 lead.

In the sixth inning, Matt Whitworth entered the game as a pinch-hitter for the host team and drew a base on balls. Logan Thomas also drew a walk for S.C. District One. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch.

Heath Burton hit a single to centerfield, knocking in Thomas and Whitworth and cutting California’s lead to 5-2.

Later in the inning, Burton scored on a pop fly by Brody Greer, leaving S.C. District One down 5-3 after 6 innings.

In the seventh inning with two hours, Logan Thomas reached base on an error. Jake Wolff came in to pinch run for Thomas. Heath Burton and Harrison Wilkins each drew walks to load the bases.

Karp came in to pitch for California and ended the game with a strikeout.

Barrett Phillips pitched a complete game for S.C. District One, giving up just five hits — all in the third inning. Phillips had 10 strikeouts

Kody Kasper took the win for Thousand Oaks, pitching four innings without giving up a run. Karp was credited with a save.

California plays Florida 4 p.m. Thursday, then the U.S. West representative will take on Illinois 9 a.m. Friday.

South Carolina plays Louisiana 4 p.m. Friday.