EASLEY — Last year, after the Dominican Republic fell to Puerto Rico in the semi-finals of the Big League World Series, the team was determined to return to Easley this year and win the BLWS title.

That determination helped produce a 12-0 win over Thousand Oaks, Calif., in Wednesday night’s championship game in front of a crowd of more than 2,000 and a nationwide live audience on ESPN2.

Odalis Jimenez pitched a complete game, picking up the win as he allowed only two hits and one walk in the shut-out. Kody Kasper picked up the loss for Thousand Oaks.

The Dominican Republic scored a run in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead. Manuel Tajada got on base via walk. He moved to third base on Franyelyn Diaz’ single. Tajada then stole home, giving the Dominican Republic a 1-0 lead.

A big bottom of the second inning gave the Dominican Republic control of the game as it pretty much took away any life from California.

Jean Carlos Marmol walked, then moved to second on a wild pitch Winston Contreras then got on base with another walk. Juan Burgos then singled and advanced to second on an error, allowing Marmol to score. Juan Luis Silvestre came in to pinch run for Burgos. Gilbert Jimenez singled, then got caught in a run-down between first and second bases. But Contreras and Silvestre both score, increasing the Dominican Republic’s lead to 4-0.

Franyelyn Diaz then hit a solo home run for the Dominican Republic.

Manuel Tejada’s double was followed by a double by Edison Flete, which drove Tejada in for another Dominican Republic run. Gilbert Jimenez then hit a single that drove Flete home, giving the Dominican Republic a 7-0 lead. Gilbert Jimenez moved to third base when Darlin Siri reached base on an error, then scored on a sacrifice fly.

In the third inning, the Dominican Republic added two more runs. Juan Burgos reached base on a walk, then advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Odalis Jimenez was walked, giving the Dominican Republic runners at first and second.

The runners advanced on a ground out. Manuel Tejada was walked to load the bases. Gilbert Jimenez then doubled, driving in two more runs and giving the Dominican Republic a 10-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Darlin Seri walked, then advanced to second and then third on wild pitches. Jean Carlos Marmol then walked to give the Dominican Republic runners on the corners. Marmol stole second, then Gilbert Contrereras hit a single, driving in both Seri and Marmol.

California was unable to do anything in the top of the fifth, so the game ended due to the 10-run rule.

In all, it was a dominating performance in the Big League World Series for the Dominican Republic. The team scored 60 runs and hit 10 home runs, while only allowing 12 runs during the series.

The win marks the Dominican Republic’s first BLWS championship, and the second time that the Latin American representative has won the title since the tournament came to Easley in 2001.