Little League World Series 2016: Thursday Scores, Bracket Results and Highlights
The Little League World Series kicked off on Thursday, with four games—two in the international tournament, two in the United States tourney—opening the competition in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania.
Below, we'll break down the day's scores, recap the contests and look back over some of the day's highlights.
Scores
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| Latin America (Aguadulce Cabezera) | 10-2 | Mexico (San Nicolas) |
| New England (Warwick North) | 2-7 | Mid-Atlantic (Maine-Endwell) |
| Europe-Africa (Emilia, Italy) | 1-3 | Australia (Hills Little League) |
| Northwest (Bend North) | 2-3 | Southeast (Goodlettsville Baseball) |
Recap
Australia Beats Europe-Africa, 3-1
Clayton Campbell was brilliant for Australia on Thursday evening, throwing five innings of perfect ball to lead the Aussies to a 3-1 win over Italy.
Campbell didn't give up a run, hit or walk in his five innings, striking out seven batters. He was replaced by Harrison Wheeldon in the sixth, who did give up a run but held on for the win.
Elia Sartini (two runs on four hits and a walk in 2.1 innings) took the loss for Italy.
The loss for Italy spoiled one of the best defensive plays the tournament will likely see, per Little League:
"What. A. Catch. #SCtop10 pic.twitter.com/AbyWZ0qHoh
— Little League (@LittleLeague) August 18, 2016"
Australia slowly chipped away at Italy, scoring a run in the second, third and fourth innings. The Italians tried to muster a rally in the top of the sixth but left two runners stranded.
Italy will now face Mexico on Saturday with their tournament lives on the line, while Australia will take on Panama the next day in the winner's bracket.
Mid-Atlantic Beats New England, 7-2
The team from Johnston, Iowa opened their Little League World Series with a 7-2 win over the team from Warwick, Rhode Island.
Ryan Harlost earned the win, throwing five scoreless innings while giving up just three hits and striking out five batters. He also was the team's star at the plate, ripping three hits—including a home run—while scoring a run and registering four RBI. He was a single away from hitting for the cycle.
Suffice to say, Rhode Island didn't have an answer for Harlost.
Nor did they have an answer for Iowa's fast start, as the team scored three runs in each of the first two innings to run out to a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Colin Lemieux took the loss for Rhode Island, giving up six runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings pitched.
Latin America Beats Mexico, 10-2
A huge third inning gave Latin America (Aguadulce, Panama) the lead, and a giant sixth inning ensured it wouldn't relinquish it, as the team rolled over Mexico, 10-2.
Carlos Gonzalez (two hits, one run, three RBI) and Esmith Pineda (home run, three RBI) were huge for Latin America, as the team slugged its way to victory and left Mexico a loss away from elimination.
The Little League on Twitter shared Pineda's three-run homer in the top of the third:
Joaquin Tejada earned the win for the country, meanwhile, throwing 4.1 innings of one-hit, two-run ball. He struck out nine batters, though he also gave up five walks.
The team from Panama stormed out to a 4-0 lead with a huge top of the third, though Mexico answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. But a run in the top of the fifth and five runs in the top of the sixth by Panama put the game out of reach for Mexico.
Victor Juarez (five innings pitched; five runs, three hits and a walk allowed; 12 strikeouts) took the loss. He also anchored Mexico's offense, registering two hits, a run and an RBI. It was the LLWS debut for Mexico's team from San Nicolas.
Latin America next faces Australia on Sunday in the winner's bracket, while Mexico faces Italy on Saturday in an elimination contest.
Southeast Beats Northwest, 3-2
It's a moment any young baseball player dreams of when playing in their backyard.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth and final inning, the Southeast (Goodlettsville Baseball Little League) was trailing the Northwest (Bend North Little League) 2-1 when Robert Carroll ripped a game-winning double to right field, scoring Tanner and Tyler Jones.
The Little League on Twitter showed the biggest hit of the young man's life:
It was a tough way for the Northwest's Zack Reynolds to end his night as he almost single-handedly carried his team to victory.
He drove in both of their runs on Thursday, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple while stymieing Southeast bats for most of the game on the hill.
Before that sixth inning, he allowed just one run on three hits while striking out six before allowing two runs on three hits in the final frame.
You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.
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