The Little League World Series Regionals continued on Friday with the Southwest and Canada entering their second days of action and the Southeast kicking off its eight-team tournament.
Here's a look at how it all went down as teams vie for one of the nine remaining spots left in the 16-team Little League World Series field.
Southeast Region Scores
South Carolina (Taylors) 9, Tennessee (Goodlettsville) 7
Virginia (South Riding) 7, North Carolina (Wilson) 1
Florida (Melbourne) 11, Alabama (Huntsville) 1 (5 innings)
Georgia (Peachtree City) 23, West Virginia (Hurricane) 0
Canada Scores
Quebec (Mirabel) 8, Alberta (Calgary) 4 (7 innings)
British Columbia (Coquitlam) 6, Atlantic (Glace Bay, Nova Scotia) 4
Host (Ancaster, Ontario) 7, Prairies (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan) 0
Southwest Region Scores
Oklahoma (Tulsa) 9, Colorado (Rifle) 0
Mississippi (Starkville) 9, Arkansas (White Hall) 8
Southwest Region Recaps
Mississippi (Starkville) 9, Arkansas (White Hall) 8
Arkansas' comeback effort came up short with a 9-8 defeat against Mississippi in the Southwest Regional.
The team from Starkville prevailed in a wild seesaw matchup that included three lead changes over the course of three innings. They scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning that would turn out to be crucial.
Arkansas grabbed a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the third thanks to three bases-loaded walks and an RBI single off the bat of Kline Catlett.
It didn't take long for Mississippi to move back in front. A five-run fourth, highlighted by Major Smith's double that drove in two, put the team ahead for good.
Carrying a 9-6 lead into the bottom of the sixth, Mississippi gave up two runs on a passed ball and ground out to cut the deficit to one. Andrew McCombs made the final out of the game for Arkansas when he was caught stealing home.
The top four batters in Mississippi's lineup did most of the damage with 10 hits, six RBI and six runs scored.
Mississippi's victory sends it to a second consecutive win-or-go-home game Sunday against the loser of Texas vs. New Mexico.
Oklahoma (Tulsa) 9, Colorado (Rifle) 0
Oklahoma used the combination of efficient hitting and power pitching in a 9-0 shutout win over Colorado.
Brian Justice and Jackson Turney had big offensive days for the Tulsa squad. They combined to go 5-for-7 with two doubles, one triple, four RBI and three runs scored.
It was only a 2-0 game before Oklahoma broke the game open in the fourth. The first three hitters reached to start the frame, and Bradley Winford stole home to increase the lead to three runs.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma's pitching completely stymied Colorado's bats. Maddox Farrell, Ian Malicott and Kaden Dean allowed just one hit—a single to Joshua Doll in the fifth—and had five strikeouts.
Colorado's stint in the regionals came to an end after its second loss. Oklahoma will have an off day before taking on the loser of Saturday's Texas-Louisiana matchup.
Southeast Region Recaps
Georgia (Peachtree City) 23, West Virginia (Hurricane) 0
Georgia racked up 23 runs on 17 hits and five walks in a 23-0 win over West Virginia that was stopped due to the mercy rule after four innings.
Of the 14 players for Peachtree City who had an at-bat, nine had at least one hit and seven drove in at least one run. Will Roan went 3-for-4 with two homers, five RBI and three runs scored.
Logan Inagawa, Camden Rodgers and Dillion Stiltner had six strikeouts and allowed just one hit on 65 pitches for Georgia.
Weston Smith had the lone hit for West Virginia—a double in the bottom of the first.
Georgia will take on Florida at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday night. West Virginia will look to rebound against Alabama at 1 p.m. ET.
South Carolina (Taylors) 9, Tennessee (Goodlettsville) 7
A Joel Irizarry based-loaded triple capped a six-run fourth inning and gave South Carolina just enough breathing room to hold off hard-charging Tennessee, 9-7 in Warner Robins, Georgia.
Irizarry's smash gave South Carolina an 8-1 edge, and the team comfortably led 9-3 going into the final frame.
However, Tennessee did not go away quietly thanks to two doubles, two singles and a walk. A Hut Hargrove bases-clearing double brought in three, and a Watson Story double with two strikes and two outs brought the tying run to the plate.
After a walk, the winning run came to the dish, but Cooper Noble shut the door with a strikeout.
Gavin Weidman led all players with three runs for South Carolina. Story had three hits.
South Carolina will play North Carolina on Saturday at 4 p.m. Tennessee will play Virginia on the same day at 10 a.m.
Virginia (South Riding) 7, North Carolina (Wilson) 1
A four-run fifth inning catapulted Virginia to a 5-1 lead and an eventual 7-1 win over North Carolina.
Colton Hicks delivered the big hit: an RBI double to give his team a 2-1 edge and advance Justin Lee to third. A two-run error then scored both players before Michael Bowden scored Liam Thyen on an RBI single to close the rally.
Lee's two-run single in the sixth gave Virginia an extra cushion.
North Carolina opened the scoring in the first when a Carter Adams single scored Ryan Bass.
However, Lee cruised for the rest of his time on the mound for Virginia, striking out nine North Carolina batters over 4.2 innings and allowing only two hits and a walk.
A Thyen double scored Chase Obstgarten in the fourth to give Virginia its first run.
Florida (Melbourne) 11, Alabama (Huntsville) 1 (5 innings)
Florida scored seven second-inning runs and never looked back as the team from Melbourne took its opener 11-1 over Alabama.
The game ended in the fifth inning on account of the 10-run mercy rule.
Florida had 13 hits, including three from leadoff hitter Micah Cheatham. Brandon Reiter had two hits and two RBI.
The winners just kept the trains moving as they scratched out 12 singles. Finnigan Goldinger was the only person to get an extra-base hit thanks to a double.
Brennan Confreda struck out five in 2.1 innings handing the ball to reliever Deaglan McBride, who allowed just one earned run over 2.2 frames and punched out three.
Florida will face the winner of Georgia vs. West Virginia at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Alabama will face the loser of that game at 1 p.m.
Canada Recaps
Quebec (Mirabel) 8, Alberta (Calgary) 4 (7 innings)
Quebec moved to 2-0 in the seven-team round-robin Canadian tournament with an 8-4 extra-innings win over Alberta.
Matt Cullen of CBC Sports praised the game's action on both sides:
Quebec beat Prairies 14-7 in its opener. Alberta fell to 0-1.
Quebec will face the tournament hosts of Ancaster, Ontario on Saturday at 5 p.m. Alberta faces Ontario the same day at 11 a.m.
British Columbia (Coquitlam) 6, Atlantic (Glace Bay, Nova Scotia) 4
A two-run double broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the fifth and helped British Columbia defeat the Atlantic team from Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, 6-4.
Nova Scotia entered the bottom of the sixth down 6-2, but the team rallied and brought the tying run to the plate. However, British Columbia held on for the win and improved to 2-0 after beating host Ancaster, Ontario 11-0 in the opener.
Glace Bay is now 0-2, having lost to Ontario (Ottawa West) 4-2 in its opener.
British Columbia is off Saturday before returning to the field Sunday and facing Alberta at 11 a.m. Glace Bay takes on Moose Jaw on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Host (Ancaster, Ontario) 7, Prairies (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan) 0
Four pitchers combined for a no-hitter in Host's 7-0 victory over Prairies in the final game of the Canadian regional on Friday night.
Christopher Pare started the game for Host, recording five of his seven outs by strikeout. William Boyer and Etienne Lapointe followed with five strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Mattis Tremblay closed things out in the sixth, issuing just one walk.
While the pitching quartet was shutting down Prairies' bats, Host's offense went to work with at least one run in five of the six innings. Charles Lavigne broke the game open with a two-run double in the top of the fifth that extended the lead to 5-0.
What's Next?
The Southeast and Southwest regionals and Canada continue on Saturday, with the Midwest beginning its tournament on the same day.
The Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Northwest, West and New England regions follow suit on Sunday.
The Little League World Series begins on August 15 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
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