Little League World Series 2017: Thursday Scores, Bracket Results and Highlights

Thursday marks the beginning of the 2017 Little League World Series with four games featuring eight teams looking to make an immediate statement against the top teams from around the globe. 

The top 16 teams from all over the world—eight from the United States and eight from various regions/countries around the nation—earned a trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania by winning their respective regional championships.

The United States ended a five-year championship drought last year when New York defeated South Korea in the title game. Japan has been the most successful country in the Little League World Series since 2010, winning four championships during that span. 

Here are the results from Thursday's opening games.

Thursday Little League World Series Results

International Bracket: Latin America def. Mexico, 4-1

United States Bracket: New England def. Mid-Atlantic, 7-6

International Bracket: Canada def. Europe-Africa, 12-2

United States Bracket: Southwest def. Great Lakes, 5-1

Thursday Recap

Southwest 5, Great Lakes 1

An outstanding start by Hunter Ditsworth and four home runs led to the Southwest team knocking off Great Lakes 5-1 in the final game on the first day of the 2017 Little League World Series. 

Ditsworth tossed a complete game, allowing just one run on two hits with eight strikeouts and no walks on 77 pitches.

The Southwest offense supported the pitching by bringing the thunder. Ditsworth, Clayton Wigley and Colin Ross all homered in the game. Ross opened the scoring with a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the second. 

The third inning saw Ditsworth, Ross and Wigley go back-to-back-to-back to give the Southwest squad all the runs it would need. The rest of the lineup had just two hits, both singles, and had nine of the team's 10 strikeouts. 

The Southwest team will take on New England Saturday in the United States' winner's bracket. Great Lakes will look to keep its Little League World Series run alive when it takes on the Mid-Atlantic squad. 

Canada 12, Europe-Africa 2

Canada had no problems getting past the Europe-Africa squad with a 12-2 victory that was called after four innings due to the 10-run mercy rule. 

The game had the makings of a back-and-forth showdown with each team scoring one run in the first inning. That would end up as close as things got, as Canada went ahead 3-1 in the top of the second inning on Robert Orr's two-run single. 

A seven-run third inning, highlighted by Chase Marshall's grand slam, was all Canada would need to earn the win. For good measure, though, the offense tacked on two more in the fourth inning to send both teams home early. 

Orr and Marshall did most of the damage for Canada. They combined to go 3-for-6 with eight RBI and three runs scored, with Marshall providing the power with two home runs. 

Even though it was overshadowed by the offensive outpouring, Canada's pitching was excellent in the win. Marshall, Reece Usselman and Sheldyn Scott gave up just three hits and no earned runs with 10 strikeouts over four innings. 

New England 7, Mid-Atlantic 6

New England held on to a 7-6 victory over Mid-Atlantic in the opening game at Williamsport for both teams. 

Trailing 7-2 with three outs remaining, Mid-Atlantic came to life with four runs. Chris Cartnick had a huge two-run homer that cut the deficit to one run with one out. 

After R.J. Vashey grounded out for the second out of the inning, New England turned the ball over to Matthew Vivona for the final out. He hit J.R. Osmond with his first pitch before getting Charlie Meglio to hit into a fielder's choice to end the game. 

New England's lineup racked up 11 hits, with the top four hitters going a combined 7-for-12 with two doubles, four RBIs and six runs scored. Vivona had one of those doubles and a triple in the win. 

The offense for Mid-Atlantic didn't make things easy, but it was unable to convert as many of its opportunities early. The team forced New England starter Ethan Righter out of the game after 3.2 innings thanks to four hits and three walks against him. 

A team from New England hasn't won multiple games in the Little League World Series since 2013. This year's group still has a long road to hoe before it can think of winning a title, but this is a strong start for the team despite the shaky final inning. 

Latin America 4, Mexico 1

Carried by a terrific start from Jonney Rosario and timely hitting, Latin America began its run in the Little League World Series with a 4-1 victory over Mexico. 

Rosario was tremendous in five innings, allowing just one run on four hits with seven strikeouts. After he had to be taken out due to reaching the pitch-count limit, Dario Cardozo closed things out with a scoreless sixth inning. 

Latin America's defense also held up its end of the bargain, turning a terrific double play in the top of the first inning on a ball scorched to second base by Jorge Garcia. 

The offense for Latin America was held in check throughout the game. Four Mexico pitchers combined to allow just three hits. Juan Faria recorded two of them and drove in two runs, including the go-ahead RBI with a single in the bottom of the third. 

Latin America added two more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. It will now await the winner of the Canada vs. Europe-Africa game in the winner's bracket on Sunday. 

Mexico still has hope to make a deep run in the Little League World Series, though its margin for error shrank exponentially in the double-elimination format. It will play the loser of the Canada vs. Europe-Africa game on Saturday.