Little League World Series 2012 Scores: Recapping Top Day 8 Performances

The matchups for the U.S. championship game and the international championship game of the 2012 Little League World Series were determined on Thursday, with Petaluma, Calif., and Panama advancing.

Panama used a big hit and stellar pitching to defeat home run–happy Mexico, 4-1. 

Petaluma unloaded on San Antonio, Texas, with a barrage of offense, 11-1. The game was called in the bottom of the fifth inning due to the 10-run rule.

Here's a look at Thursday's Little League heroes.

Hance Smith, SS, Petaluma

Think Hance Smith caught on fire a little bit the past few games?

After appearing on Day 6's "Top Performances," the 5'5", 109-pound slugger gave us a grand encore on Thursday against San Antonio, going 3-for-3 with two home runs, five RBI and three runs.

After starting the tournament 3-for-21, Smith has gone 6-for-9 with three home runs, 10 RBI and four runs in his past three games.

Quinton Gago, 1B/OF/P, Petaluma

After a sterling pitching performance against Connecticut on Tuesday (5.1 innings, no runs, seven strikeouts), Quinton Gago did damage with his bat on Thursday against San Antonio, going 2-for-3 with one home run, two RBI and a run.

Gago and Smith are proving to be quite the tandem for Petaluma in the LLWS as they get set for Tennessee on Saturday in the U.S. championship game.

James Gonzalez, SS/P, Panama

James Gonzalez has been on fire in the LLWS this year and that didn't change on Thursday, when he hit the game-deciding home run in the first inning against Mexico.

Gonzalez finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run. He's now hitting .571 with three home runs, eight RBI and five runs in four LLWS games, per the official LLWS website.

Gonzalez's hitting will be needed against the dominant pitching of Japan on Saturday in the international championship game.

Edisson Gonzalez, P/1B, Panama

Facing a Mexico team that had scored 31 runs and launched 11 home runs before Thursday's game, all Edisson Gonzalez did was pitch a complete game, giving up just one run on five hits and striking out 11.

Gonzalez now owns a 1.20 ERA, with 19 strikeouts in 10 innings. He's also batting .286 with two RBI and two runs in four games.

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