Little League World Series 2016: Wednesday Scores, Bracket Results, Highlights
A spot in the international final and a spot in the United States final were each up for grabs on Wednesday at the Little League World Series, while several teams on both sides of the bracket were looking to ward off elimination as well.
Below, we'll break down all of the day's action from Williamsport.
Results
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| Mexico | 10-0 | Australia |
| Southeast | 14-3 | Midwest |
| Asia-Pacific | 2-3 | Latin America |
| Great Lakes | Mid-Atlantic |
Recap
Latin America Beats Asia-Pacific, 3-2
Panama moved to the international final with a 3-2 win over South Korea on Wednesday, dropping South Korea to the loser's bracket.
Panama got all three of their runs in the bottom of the fifth off the bat of Esmith Pineda, who blasted a three-run homer. Baseball Tonight shared Pineda's monster blast:
"Hitting a home run over just one fence is overrated. #LLWS https://t.co/upbg6B83Bo
— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) August 24, 2016"
Carlos Gonzalez, Edwar Bethancourth and Joaquin Tejada combined to give up just two runs on just one hit and two walks, striking out 11. Bethancourth was awarded the win.
That spoiled a strong showing from Jaekyeong Kim, who pitched 4.2 innings, giving up just two hits, three walks and a run while striking out nine. Junho Jeong came on in relief and gave up Pineda's home run, however, taking the loss.
Panama know awaits the winner of South Korea and Mexico, who will be playing for a spot in the international final.
Southeast Beats Midwest, 14-3
Southeast stayed alive at the Little League World Series and knocked out Midwest in the process, winning in five innings by the mercy rule, 14-3.
RJ Moore (three-run homer), Ethan Jackson (one home run, one RBI, two runs) and Robert Carroll (two hits, two runs, two RBI) led the offensive onslaught for Tennessee, while Carroll went 4.1 innings, giving up three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out six, earning the win.
Josh Larson took the loss for Iowa, giving up seven runs on five hits and six walks while striking out three batters in 3.2 innings pitched.
Tennessee blew up the game in the top of the fourth, scoring six runs to take a 7-3 lead. They continued the rout in the next inning, pushing seven across the plate. Iowa couldn't manage any runs in the bottom of the inning, and the game was called due to the mercy rule.
Tennessee now awaits the loser of New York vs. Kentucky, with a place in the United States final on the line, while Iowa's tournament has come to an end. New York previously defeated Tennessee to knock them down to the loser's bracket.
Mexico Beats Australia, 10-0
Mexico kept its Little League World Series hopes alive and eliminated Australia in the process, rolling to a 10-0 win in a game ended by the mercy rule after four innings.
Three players ripped two RBI for Mexico, led by Victor Juarez, who finished with two hits, a home run, two runs, two RBI and a walk. Jose Angel Leal was equally brilliant, ripping a home run and pitching 3.2 innings of one-hit, no-run ball. He also struck out 10 batters, earning the win.
Australia's Harrison Wheeldon (3.0 innings pitched, seven hits, four walks, seven runs, four strikeouts) took the loss.
It was a familiar result for Australia, as ESPN Stats & Information noted:
Mexico opened the game with two runs in the top of the first before blowing things wide open in the top of the third. Angel Leal hit a solo home run, and Diego Cantu and Fabian Alejandro Mar each ripped two-run doubles. Mexico chipped in another two runs in the top of the fourth and Australia couldn't answer, leading to the game's early finish.
Mexico now awaits the loser of the Latin America vs. Asia-Pacific contest later today. If Mexico wins that contest, it'll be headed to the international final on Saturday.
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