Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images
When Wednesday’s action at the Little League Baseball World Series began, eight teams from the original 20-team tournament field were still contending for the championship.
Four games were on the slate, with two matchups determining the first participants in the U.S. and International finals. The other two games were elimination matchups, cutting the field from eight to six.
Here’s a look at the day’s results, recaps and highlights.
Scores
Asia-Pacific (Taoyuan City, Chinese Taipei) 3, Japan (Tokyo) 1
Southwest (Boerne, Texas) 5, Mountain (Henderson, Nevada) 2
Latin America (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) 11, Mexico (Tamaulipas) 3
Southeast (Lake Mary, Florida) 4, West (Wailuku, Hawaii) 3
Bracket
Asia-Pacific (Taoyuan City, Chinese Taipei) vs. Japan (Tokyo)
Chinese Taipei is headed to the International final after defeating Japan 3-1.
Yu Chia-Jui smacked a two-RBI double in the first inning to score Chiu Wei-Che and Ciou Zhi-Kai, who started the inning with a double and single, respectively.
Little League @LittleLeague
On the board early! 🔢
Down the line to score two for Chinese Taipei #LLWS pic.twitter.com/XrgD5dWeNO
Japan escaped the first inning without further damage, but the Chinese Taipei pitchers were too tough. Lai Cheng-Xi and Zhi-Kai combined for five innings of one-hit ball, striking out 10.
Japan did put a pair of runners on in the second and third innings with a pair of walks each time, but Chinese Taipei escaped both jams.
Chinese Taipei’s third run arrived in the fourth inning, when Hu Yen-Chun’s RBI double scored Liao Hsuan-Hao.
However, Japan engineered a two-out rally in the sixth after Koki Takemori and Tsuyoshi Ito hit back-to-back doubles, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Chinese Taipei ended the threat and the game, though, by inducing a groundout to second.
Chinese Taipei has now outscored its four opponents (Canada, Australia, Cuba, Japan) 32-3. The team will advance to the International final on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET.
Japan has a shot for a rematch but needs to win Thursday against Latin America (Barquisimeto, Venezuela).
Southwest (Boerne, Texas) 5, Mountain (Henderson, Nevada) 2
Four Texas players—Julian Hurst, Gray Collins, Doc Mogford and Gage Steubing—had two hits apiece as the team representing the Southwest region defeated Nevada 5-2.
Cooper Hastings pitched four scoreless innings of brilliant relief for Texas, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out two.
Hastings’ first-inning sacrifice fly got Texas on the board before Mogford’s RBI double scored Collins for a 2-0 edge.
Little League @LittleLeague
We finally found out what Doc is up to: hitting tanks 🔥
📺: ESPN | #LLWS pic.twitter.com/TeYPSDEOdJ
Nevada immediately struck back with two in the second inning with a Liam Sparks bases-loaded walk and a Gunner Beranek RBI single.
Texas then scored three in the third. A Hurst RBI single scored a speedy Steubing to break the tie.
Little League @LittleLeague
Hurst with the power 💪
Steubing with the speed to put Texas on top 💨
And they never looked back #LLWS pic.twitter.com/iYHYA499XD
A Collins RBI double and another Hastings sac fly made it 5-2.
Texas will now head to the U.S. final on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. Nevada is still alive for a U.S. Final spot but needs to win Thursday against Florida.
Latin America (Barquisimeto, Venezuela) 11, Mexico (Tamaulipas) 3
Venezuela’s bats broke out on Wednesday evening with Willian’s Mora leading the way thanks to three hits and three runs en route to an 11-3 win.
Venezuela scored three runs apiece in the first and second innings. Three RBI singles got the job done in the first. Jonathan Landaeta then laced a two-RBI double in the second for a 5-0 edge.
Little League @LittleLeague
Jonathan Landaeta crushes this ball to center for a 2-RBI double 🚀
📺: ESPN | #LLWS pic.twitter.com/fQpYzhdNMx
Landaeta later scored on a sacrifice fly for a 6-0 lead.
The two teams traded a run apiece before Mexico got going in the fourth on two walks and a Santiago Sotelo RBI double to lead off the frame. However, Venezuela then got three straight outs (one of which was a sac fly to score another run) to get out of it.
Venezuela then scratched out four runs in the final frame. The rally began with a Mora double.
Venezuela now plays Japan on Thursday at 3 p.m. ET for the right to face off against Chinese Taipei in the International final.
Southeast (Lake Mary, Florida) 4, West (Wailuku, Hawaii) 3
Florida jumped out to a 4-0 lead and then held off a spirited Hawaii charge en route to the 4-3 win.
Garrett’s Rohozen’s first inning RBI groundout opened the scoring before Florida added two more runs via RBI singles from Lathan Norton and Hunter Alexander.
Rohozen then launched a homer to left field in the third inning for the 4-0 advantage.
Little League @LittleLeague
Bro LAUNCHED this ball 😱 #LLWS pic.twitter.com/DOxLvXZJE5
Hawaii fought back with three runs in the fourth inning. A Gauge Pacheco RBI double got things going. An error then scored a second run. Matthew Yang then hit an RBI single to make it 4-3, and Hawaii found itself with the bases loaded with one out.
However, Florida relief pitcher Luis Calo came in and got two massive strikeouts to end the threat.
Hawaii got a runner on first with one out in the fifth, but a lineout double play ended that frame.
In the bottom of the sixth, Gabriel Laloulu smacked a double to dead center that nearly cleared the wall for a homer. A sacrifice bunt got him to third.
But Calo delivered again by throwing a strikeout and inducing a groundout to second to end the game.
Florida will now play Nevada on Thursday for the right to play Texas in the United States final.
Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. This website makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact editor @pleasantgrove.business
