Joshua Bessex/Getty ImagesThe Little League World Series continued Saturday as teams battled it out in regional matchups, hoping to make it to the coveted field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
All but two regions were in action on Saturday, so there was plenty of baseball to be played as the World Series picture begins to come together.
Here’s a look at how teams fared on Saturday.
New Jersey 8, Connecticut 4
New York vs. Rhode Island, Postponed to Sunday at 7 p.m. ET
Boulder Arrowhead Montana 7, Paseo Verde Nevada 1
Massachusetts 9, Vermont 0
West Valley Idaho 6, South Hill Washington 4
Bend North Oregon 6, Abbot-O-Rabbitt Alaska 2
Alabama 4, North Carolina 1
The Midwest Region had plenty of excitement on Saturday.
Wisconsin got on the board early, putting up two runs in the top of the first inning thanks to an RBI triple from Tyler Kelley followed by a sac fly from Greg Pulda. Minnesota quickly answered in the bottom of the second after an RBI double from Axel Meyer and an RBI single from Grady Newhall.
Wisconsin tacked on two more runs in the top of the third and another in the top of the fourth to make it a 5-2 game.
But Minnesota came to life in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring seven runs to make it a comfortable 9-5 lead. Wisconsin added three more runs to cut into the defecit, but ultimately came up short of the comeback.
The drama in the Midwest Region continued during Missouri and Iowa’s matchup. While this contest was less of an offensive battle than the first game of the day, there was no shortage of thrills.
Iowa’s only runs of the game came in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI double from Cole Everhart. From there, Missouri was playing the catchup game.
In the bottom of the sixth, Missouri was down to its last three outs when Rylan Crooker got on base with a walk. After Crooker advanced to third on a few wild pitches, George Hines made it to first on another walk. Crooler then made it home on another wild pitch.
With a runner on base, Joel Beverlin hit an RBI single to put runners on the corners before Levi Smith delivered as the hero, hitting an RBI double to send both runners home and give Missouri the win in walk-off fashion.
Little League @LittleLeagueLevi Smith called game ⏰ #LLWS pic.twitter.com/7nFo2Oul0p
Bend North Oregon 6, Abbot-O-Rabbit 2
Bend North Oregon’s Little League World Series title hopes are still alive thanks to a late surge against Abbot-O-Rabbit Alaska on Saturday.
Alaska got on the board first with an RBI single from Wyatt Hultquist and an RBI single from Gunnar Counts, but Bend North answered immediately, tacking on two runs of its own in the bottom of the first on an RBI double from Cade Craverio.
The two teams went into a pitcher duel across the next few innings, but a few miscues from Alaska allowed Bend North to add some insurance. With the bases loaded, an error allowed a run to come across, and Mosi Montgomery reached on a walk to put pressure on the defense.
Another wild pitch allowed a run to come across, and Bend North tacked on two more runs thanks to an RBI single from Ashton Martindale to make it 6-2.
From there, pitchers Jensen Flagel and Micah Gylling kept Alaska off the board to give their team the win.
Source : Bleacher Report