After Texas and North Carolina clinched their spot in the 2017 Little League World Series on Wednesday, the remaining six regional tournaments continue Thursday across the country.
Each of the remaining six regionals end Saturday. Thursday marks an opportunity for the 12 teams playing to secure a spot in their regional championship game, while the squads that come up short get one more chance to keep their season alive Friday.
Here are the results from each of Thursday's games, as they go final.
Thursday Regional Results
Midwest: Nebraska (Kearney) def. Iowa (Johnston), 6-5
New England: Maine (South Portland) def. Vermont (Essex), 8-5
Northwest: Oregon def. Washington, 8-4
Great Lakes: Michigan (Grosse Point Woods) def. Kentucky (Lexington Eastern), 10-0
Mid-Atlantic: Maryland (Thurmont) def. Delaware (Milton), 5-2
West: Southern California vs. Hawaii, 9 p.m.
Thursday Regional Recap
Maryland def. Delaware, 5-2
Boosted by two home runs in the bottom of the fifth, Maryland earned a come-from-behind 5-2 victory over Delaware in the Mid-Atlantic regional.
This was a pitcher's duel for the first four innings. Delaware jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Paris Mitchell's RBI groundout. Delaware starting pitcher Kyle Wells did an outstanding job early, giving up three hits, one run and one walk in the first four innings.
Maryland starter E.J. Lowry was matching Wells pitch for pitch, allowing two runs on two hits with six strikeouts and four walks in 4.2 innings.
Maryland's bats finally broke out in the fifth. Logan Simanski put the team ahead with a two-run shot. Josh Skowronski tripled and came in to score when Will Gisriel hit a two-run shot of his own that ended Wells' day.
The win sends Delaware to a matchup against Pennsylvania on Friday, with the winner advancing to the Mid-Atlantic Regional championship game against New Jersey. Pennsylvania beat Delaware 4-3 in their first meeting Sunday.
Michigan def. Kentucky, 10-0
Michigan had no problem asserting its will on Kentucky in a 10-0 victory that was stopped due to the mercy rule after four innings.
Things were quiet after Michigan scored two runs in the first inning. Both teams traded zeroes in the second inning, and Michigan starter Joey Randazzo worked a 1-2-3 top half of the third inning.
In the bottom of the third, the wheels fell off for Kentucky starter Ty Bryant. The first three Michigan hitters singled to start the inning, then a sacrifice fly by Jack Jones and RBI single by Adam Ayrault made it 5-0.
Five more runs in the fourth inning, capped off by Jordan Arseneau's RBI double, gave Michigan its second straight win after losing to Ohio in the opener.
Michigan will have another shot at revenge Friday against Ohio when the two teams meet to determine Illinois' opponent in the Great Lakes Region title game Saturday.
Oregon def. Washington, 8-4
Oregon remained perfect in the Northwest Regional thanks to an 8-4 victory over Washington. The victory also sets up the Oregon squad for an appearance in Saturday's title game, with a shot at the 2017 Little League World Series on the line.
Washington stormed out of the gate with four runs in the first two innings. Caiden Thomsen had a two-run single in the top of the second to give Washington a 4-2 edge.
After responding with one run in the third inning, Oregon took control of things in the fourth. Three runs scored on two fielder's choice plays, and Noah Mcllmoil delivered an RBI double off Washington reliever Andrew Hall.
Oregon's pitching settled down after allowing four runs on six hits in the first two innings. Logan Williams and Sam Tsiatsos combined to give up just four hits over the last four innings.
The good news for Washington is it has an opportunity to get a rematch against Oregon in the title game, though it will first have to get past Montana on Friday.
Maine def. Vermont, 8-5
Since being shut out by Connecticut on Monday, Maine has responded to adversity with back-to-back hard-fought wins, including Thursday's 8-5 triumph over Vermont.
Maine stormed out of the gate with a 6-0 lead after two innings. Aiden Lee and Ben Stanley got things started with back-to-back two-out RBI singles in the bottom of the first. Nolan Hobbs and Richie Gilboy hit consecutive homers in the bottom of the second.
Vermont tried to claw its way back into the game with three runs in the third. With two on and one out, Maine pitcher Johnny Poole was able to get a groundout and strikeout to end the threat.
The loss marked Vermont's second defeat in regional play, ending its hopes for its first-ever New England regional championship and an appearance in the Little League World Series.
Maine still has a tall task ahead of it if it wants to reach the Little League World Series for the first time since 2005. It has a date with New Hampshire on Friday, with the winner of that matchup advancing to Saturday's title game against Connecticut.
Nebraska def. Iowa, 6-5
A thrilling sixth inning in which nine of the game's 11 runs were scored saw Nebraska earn a walk-off 6-5 win over Iowa to clinch a berth in Saturday's Midwest Regional championship game.
The two teams were engaged in a pitching duel over the first five innings, and Nebraska held a 2-0 lead heading into the sixth. Starting pitcher Brayden Andersen was cruising with one hit allowed and 13 strikeouts in the first five innings.
Iowa's hitters finally figured out Andersen in the top of the sixth, with three of the first five batters recording extra-base hits. Cale Moss' two-run double put Iowa up 3-2 with one out in the sixth.
Sam Hesselman's RBI single and Rex Woodley's RBI triple gave Iowa a 5-2 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Nebraska would load the bases thanks to three consecutive walks to start the home half of the inning. After Iowa reliever Pierce Anderson got Luke Wegner to strike out for the first out, Reese Bober and Andersen hit back-to-back RBI singles that tied the score at five.
Two batters later, Brooks Paul won the game for Nebraska with an RBI single that scored Andersen from third base.
Despite the hard-fought loss, Iowa does have a shot at redemption. It will play Missouri on Friday, with the winner of that matchup playing Nebraska on Saturday.
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