Little League World Series 2012 Results: Winners of Early Tournament Action

Every game of the 2012 Little League World Series promises something special as the best young baseball players in the world flock to Williamsport, Penn. to compete for their sport's ultimate crown.

Countries from all over the world are represented in the tournament's field. Eventually the top teams will emerge as others fall by the way side.

Last year, Huntingdon Beach, Calif. hoisted the first-place trophy. This year Petaluma Little League will try to continue California's success. but the competition will be thick.

Make sure you stay tuned right here as we update the winner of each game as the tournament progresses.

California vs. Connecticut

Bradley Smith is a man among boys for Petaluma Little League, and he paced their 6-4 victory over Connecticut on Thursday.

He's 6'3'', and he means business.

Smith struck out seven Connecticut hitters and went 4-4 from the plate. Of those four hits, one was a home run, two were doubles and he tacked on a single in the game's final frame.

This game was very close. Connecticut had it within one in the bottom of the fifth before southpaw Andrew White slammed the door in the sixth. 

Connecticut entered Williamsport as one of the favorites so this loss has to be disappointing. Nonetheless, this was a very exciting opening day matchup.

Japan vs. Curacao

Japan won this matchup 7-0, but it was expected to be much closer. Both of these teams traditionally perform very well in Williamsport, but Japan was the better team on Thursday.

Kotaro Kiyomiya and Noriatsu Osaka worked together to two-hit the Curacao lineup. Together they mustered 14 strikeouts.

This is Curacao's first World Series appearance in three years, but Japan's pitching effort, combined with big hits from players like Satoru Aoyama, proved to be too much for the boys from Willemstad.

Japan starts off on the right foot as they look to make their third straight appearance in the international championship.

Germany vs. Chinese Taipei

Chinese Taipei delivered the tournament's first mercy rule-victory with their 14-1 shellacking of German-based KMC American Little League on Thursday.

They were paced by four multi-RBI efforts, including a home run by Li-Wei Cheng. Cheng had four RBI total and two hits overall.

As a team, Chinese Taipei had 11 hits. Their two pitchers, Chun-En Lin and Cheng-Feng Lee, combined for eight strikeouts. Germany's one run wasn't earned, and they only mustered one hit in the game's shortened four innings.

Chinese Taipei has had absurd success in Williamsport in the past. They haven't had a champion since 1996, but they've won 17 titles overall.

Tennessee vs. Nebraska

Goodlettsville, Tenn. earned a 12-1 victory over Kearney, Neb. behind the arm of Brock Myers in the final tilt on Thursday.

Myers struck out eight batters in 4.1 innings. He also managed to hit a two-run homer late in the game.

No team from Nebraska has ever earned a bid to the mecca of Little League baseball. They'll try and keep their hopes alive against Connecticut on Saturday.

Tennessee's dominant win advances them to the next round, and their hot bats will make them difficult to stop if they continue.