WASHINGTON, Pa. — Ron Bondo is quite familiar with the style of play his Cranberry Township Federation 14 PONY baseball team displayed in its 31 victories this season.

He didn’t see it Tuesday night.

Before it picked up its own bats, Cranberry trailed Laredo (Texas) 4-0 and went on to suffer a 10-0, five-inning defeat in the PONY World Series at Lew Hays Field.

“It was very frustrating,” Bondo said of the loss. “We just had a bad day and this was the wrong time for that.”

The loss knocks Cranberry (31-3) into the loser’s bracket, where it will face Lafayette (Ind.) today at 8 p.m. Should Cranberry prevail, it would face Laredo in a rematch on Thursday.

Laredo first baseman Eddie Gonzalez set the tone early Tuesday night, sending the third pitch of the game over the right-center-field fence for a quick 1-0 edge.

It was the beginning of a rough outing for Cranberry starter, Mason DeHart, who allowed seven runs on eight hits in 1 1/3 innings of work.

“He wasn’t hitting his spots,” said Bondo. “We weren’t getting his curveball called for strikes and he left his fastballs up. (Laredo) made us pay for it.”

Meanwhile, Laredo starter David Garza shrugged off a shaky first inning to earn the win.

After allowing a single to Ross Bondo and a free pass to Brad Hensler in the bottom of the first, Garza went on to strike out five in three innings. He helped his own cause with a three-run homer in the second frame.

“We’re always challenging our guys, who can come up with the big hit,” said Laredo manager Manuel Rangel.

The pinnacle of Cranberry’s struggles came in the top of the third.

With two runners on and one out, relief pitcher Ryan Donnelly struck out Gonzalez, but the ball skipped to the backstop, allowing Bernie Martinez to score. An errant throw brought another run home for a 9-0 lead.

“Every element of the game in which we did well in on Saturday (an 11-0 win over Washington, Pa.), we did not do well today,” said Bondo. “Tonight, we just did a lot of uncharacteristic things.”

Cranberry’s second and final hit of the night came on DeHart’s single in the third inning. He advanced to second on a balk, but was stranded there by Garza.

Laredo turned to reliever Ruben Solis in the fourth inning and the right-hander responded by pitching a pair of scoreless innings.

“We don’t pitch for the strikeout, we pitch to contact,” said Rangel. “Our guys kept the ball down. We have a great defense behind them.

“It’s so much easier to play when you’re ahead,” he added.

Despite his team’s latest game, Bondo is confident his players will be ready for tonight’s contest.

“Our kids have short memories,” he said.

Note: Donnelly struck out six and walked two in his 32/3 innings of work before Ryan Senka pitched a scoreless fifth inning for Cranberry.

Laredo, Texas 432 10x x — 10 10 1Cranberry Twp. 000 00x x — 0 2 4W: David Garza 3 IP (5K, 2BB).

L: Mason DeHart 1 1/3 IP (2K, 0BB).

Laredo: Eddie Gonzalez HR 2R, Mario Garcia 2B R, Isaac Gutierrez 2-1B 2R, David Garza HR 3RBI, Felipe Rodriguez 2B 2R 2RBI, Gera Ramos 2-1B RBI, Bernie Martinez 1B R, Eduardo Rodriguez 1B R

Cranberry Township: Ross Bondo 1B, Mason DeHart 1B

Today: Cranberry Township vs. Lafayette, Ind. at Lew Hays Field, 8 p.m.