Little League World Series 2012 Scores: Recapping Top Day 6 Performances

We've been treated to some amazing performances so far in the 2012 Little League Series, and Day 6 was no different, as players clubbed home runs and pitched with authority.

In elimination games, Middle East-Africa disposed of Northwest (Oregon), Mexico knocked Caribbean out of the tournament and West (Petaluma) sent New England (Connecticut) home.

Here's a look at Tuesday's stars.

Quinton Gago, SP, West (Petaluma)

With Petaluma's LLWS hopes on the line, starting pitcher Quinton Gago stepped up and unloaded on New England (Connecticut).

Gago pitched 5.1 innings of shutout ball on Tuesday, giving up just two hits and striking out seven in Petaluma's 5-0 victory. This came after he pitched 1.2 innings of shutout ball against Southeast on Sunday, striking out three.

Gago also went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Tuesday's win.

Hance Smith, SS, West (Petaluma)

Hance Smith had been struggling overall—leading up to Tuesday's game—but he stepped up when it mattered most against Connecticut, going 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.

The performance came after a "warm-up" game for Smith, in which he went 2-for-3 with two RBI against Middle East-Africa on Monday.

Smith is heating up at just the right time for Petaluma.

Ramon Ballina, 3B/P, Mexico

Ramon Ballina hit his third home run of the LLWS on Tuesday against Caribbean, going 1-for-3 with three RBI and one run in the 6-2 victory.

On top of that, Ballina finished off the game with three shutout innings relieving Andres Carillo (including two strikeouts).

Ballina is hitting .417 with three home runs, eight RBI and three runs in four LLWS games this year.

Eduardo Abrego, C/3B, Mexico

Two batters after Ballina hit his home run in the third inning, Eduardo Abrego connected with his second dinger of the LLWS, completing a five-run inning that put the game out of reach.

Abrego finished 2-for-3 for the day and ensured that nobody would ignore Mexico's powerful bats. Abrego is now hitting .273 with two home runs, four RBI and three runs.

The team has a tournament-leading 11 home runs in four games, per the official LLWS website.

Daniel Alio, SP, Middle East-Africa

In an elimination game against Northwest on Tuesday, Daniel Alio stepped up big time, tossing 5.1 innings of two-run ball, striking out eight and allowing six hits.

Northwest (Oregon) put two runs on the board in the fourth inning, but Middle East-Africa came right back with two of their own in the bottom of the inning. 

From there on out, Alio didn't allow a run, giving the ball to Job Echon in the final inning to close out the game.

Alio also went 2-for-2 from the batter's box, scoring a crucial run in the 3-2 victory.

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