Day 7 of the 2025 Little League World Series featured another slate of elimination games as the tournament in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, inched closer to the championship.
Eight teams were in action on Tuesday, Aug. 19, with every game a must-win situation in the double-elimination tournament format. Each of the teams that took the field Tuesday entered the day with at least one defeat.
Japan eliminated Mexico with a 6-0 win. The shutout was the eighth out of 13 international bracket games in Williamsport. Aruba secured a matchup against Japan on Wednesday, Aug. 20 with a 6-1 win over Canada.
In the U.S. side of the bracket, South Carolina (Southeast region) eliminated Hawaii (West) with a 3-0 win, and South Dakota (Midwest) surged past Washington (Northwest) for a 9-0 victory. South Carolina (Southeast region) and South Dakota (Midwest) meet in another elimination game on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
USA TODAY Sports provided full coverage of all four games on Day 7:
South Dakota pitcher Maxen Snoozy had 14 strikeouts, including 10 in a row, to lead his team to a 9-0 victory against Washington in an elimination game. South Dakota will play South Carolina on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
At 5-2 and 104 pounds, the diminutive Snoozy, a lefthander, still overpowered Washington with his fastball. He also worked out of a big jam. With South Dakota clinging to a 1-0 lead, Washington loaded the bases with one out. So, of course, Snoozy struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
South Dakota’s offense erupted for eight runs in the top of the sixth to seal the game.
Clinging to a 1-0 lead headed into the top of the sixth, South Dakota erupted for eight runs and suddenly lead Washington, 9-0. Incredibly enough, South Dakota’s first two batters made outs before the onslaught began. South Dakota had six hits and three walks in the inning.
Washington loaded the bases with one out, and suddenly South Dakota’s 1-0 lead and its starting pitcher, Maxen Snoozy, looked vulnerable. Well, not for long. Snoozy fanned the next two batters, giving him 13 strikeouts for the game and escaping the jam.
Maxen Snoozy, the 5-foot-2, 104-pound lefthander for South Dakota, struck out 10 batters in a row before the streak finally ended in the bottom of the fourth. But Snoozy still looked pumped up when Washington’s Finn Harrington grounded out to third and South Dakota maintained its 1-0 lead over Washington heading into the fifth inning.
Through three innings, South Dakota pitcher Maxen Snoozy has struck out eight batters in a row and protected his team’s 1-0 lead over Washington.
Washington center fielder Finn Harrington made a spectacular catch on Connor Felderman’s shot to center. Harrington fluidly tracked the ball and extended his arm for the catch before tumbling to the turf. And rose to his feet with a thin smile on his face. But Washington, trailing 1-0, could use some runs in addition to spectacular defense.
South Dakota pitcher Maxen Snoozy is putting Washington’s bats to sleep. He struck out five batters in a row over the first and second innings and his team lead Washington, 1-0. South Dakota picked up its run thanks to a wild pitch.
Aruba star Arnold Gismar Martha did not work the concession stands or the turnstiles. But showed off his versatility and talent while helping lead Aruba to a 6-1 victory over Canada that secured a matchup against Japan on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
Gismar pitched 1 2/3 innings of clutch relief, striking out three battlers, and also played shortstop and catcher.
But it wasn’t a one-player show. Anthony Santos homered and six other Aruba players had hits for the Caribbean team. And two other pitchers along with Martha held Canada to four hits.
Aruba extended its lead over Canada to 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth when it manufactured a run on a base hit, fielding error and wild pitch.
After a quiet second inning, it looked like the third would provide more of the same after Canada went down quiety and Aruba could only muster a runner on second with two outs.
However, things quickly went topsy-turvy. A single from Diliano Raven put runners on the corners, then Isaac Arendsz brought both of them home with a double.
Arendsz himself even ended up at third base, threatening for an even bigger inning. Luckily for Canada, Emerson Mercado would not be able to bring him home. Still, the damage has been done. Aruba leads 4-1 heading into the fourth.
Well it didn’t take long for Aruba to tie this game back up. Aruba’s leadoff hitter, Anthony Santos smoked the fourth pitch of the inning over the left field wall. The only positive for Canada was that no one was on base.
Aruba would add another in the bottom of the first, flipping the table on Canada. Following the Uno reverse inning, Aruba is the team with a one-run lead. They lead 2-1.
If the first inning is any indication, Aruba could be in for a long day. Canada may have only gotten one run across, but they were seriously threatening a much larger number, constantly getting runners on base. It felt like the bases were loaded for the entire inning.
Aruba heads into the bottom of the first looking to tie this game up. It’s 1-0 Canada.
In this elimination game, it was South Carolina emerging victorious thanks to a breakthrough sixth inning and a controversial call that kept Hawaii off the basepaths in the bottom of the sixth.
The star of this game was undoubtedly South Carolina’s Brady Westbrook. Westbrook pitched a complete game shutout, surrendering only four hits and walking only two. While his six strikeouts were fewer than we’ve seen from other dominant pitching performances, it should be noted that Hawaii has been one of the tougher teams to strike out all tournament long.
With the win, South Carolina advances to face the winner of tonight’s later U.S. game. They are now just two wins away from a spot in the U.S. Championship. As for Hawaii, their tournament has ended.
Nursing a one-run lead, South Carolina broke through in a big way in the sixth inning, extending their lead to three runs, giving starter Brady Westbrook much more room to work, which would come in handy considering Hawaii led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a double.
South Carolina got their two runs thanks to a single from Andrew Bogan which drove in Preston Ware and Bubba McQuilkin. Given how tough Westbrook has been to this Hawaii team, Hawaii is on their heels with just three outs to spare.
Hawaii got a runner into scoring position with one out against South Carolina’s Brady Westbrooks after Kobe Lumford singled and that moved Dayten Ordenstein to second base. Hulili Kauahikaua then walked to load the bases with one out. However, Shane Bunag hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning. South Carolina First baseman Jacob Gibson made an impressive stretch to receive the ball to complete the double play. The call at first was reviewed and upheld. After five complete innings, South Carolina 1-0 lead over Hawaii.
Brokaw has gone three and one-third innings and has given up two hits and two walks but more importantly has kept South Carolina from scoring any more runs, which still leaves some hope for Hawaii. Still, 1-0, South Carolina after the top of the fifth.
Hawaii’s Kuana Payanal got a leadoff single to start the bottom of the fourth inning. But his team couldn’t advance him against South Carolina’s Brady Westbrooks, who’s now allowed just one hit amogst 52 pitches (33 for strikes).
Westbrooks has been a tough opponent for the Hawaii hitters thus far. He’s allowed only one walk, struck out one batter and relied on his defense for the remaining outs as South Carolina holds onto a 1-0 lead after three innings.
South Carolina’s Joe Giulietti was initially called out at first base but replay clearly showed he beat the throw by a half of a step. Brady Westbrooks then gets a single to center and Giulietti goes all the way to third base on the play. However, Andrew Bogan then popped out to end the inning. Still, 1-0, South Carolina after the top of the third inning.
Westbrooks has throw only 20 pitches (13 for strikes) and hasn’t allowed a hit or a walk yet and had one strikeout with his team leading 1-0 after two innings.
Brokhaw inherited the bases loaded with two outs and proceeded to walk the first batter he faced for a 1-0 South Carolina lead. Fermahin finished with 38 pitches (35 threshold) and he will have to rest for one day.
Fermahin 12 pitches (10 strikes) allowed one hit and had one strikeout in the first inning while Westbrooks 10 pitches (seven strikes) breezed through his portion and added one strikeout. After the first inning, we are scoreless in Williamsport.
South Carolina (1-1) and Hawaii (1-1) each looking to extend its stay in Williamsport as game 26 of the LLWS begins.
There have been 13 games in the international bracket at Volunteer Stadium so far this year in Williamsport and eight of them have ended in a shutout. Japan’s Yoshi Yamamoto was the star on the mound and at the plate for his team. He went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI at the plate. He tossed five and one-third innings, gave up only three hits, allowed no walks and struck out eight batters to ensure Japan stayed alive in the LLWS. Japan moves on to face winner of Canada/Aruba at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN on Wednesday, Aug. 20 at Volunteer Stadium. Mexico ends its LLWS experience with a 2-2 record.
Yamamoto pitched to one batter in the bottom of the sixth inning and got a lineout. He finished with 68 pitches (threshold 65 pitches requires three days rest) and is now available to pitch again on Saturday, August 23 in the international championship game (if Japan makes it there).
Mexico’s Iker Castaneda got a strikeout to end the top of the sixth on his 83rd pitch of the game. So, if the game gets extended, he could face potentially one more batter. But Mexico’s deficit is large, six runs to be exact, against Japan’s Yoshi Yamamoto, who came out to start the bottom of the sixth inning.
Do you leave Yoshi Yamamoto in for the potential complete game or do you take him out after 64 pitches? Currently, he would need three days rest and can’t pitch again until Saturday, August 23 (if Japan makes it there). If he goes to 66 or more pitches, he would need four days of rest and wouldn’t be available again until Sunday, August 24 (if Japan makes it to the championship game). Either way, Yamamoto had a six-pitch inning to stay under that threshold with his team leading 6-0 after five innings.
According to ESPN, every hitter for Japan now has at least one hit in the Little League World Series after Ritsugu Furusato gets an infield single to reach first base to start off the inning. Teammate Yoshi Yamamoto showing his power and launches a two-run home run to right field to extend Japan’s lead to 6-0 after the top of the fifth inning. Yamamoto is 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI.
Mexico’s Ian Cano led off the inning with a hit. Gregorio Madrid got hit by a pitch and that put runners on first and second with no outs. But Japan’s Yoshi Yamamoto showed how tough he was with a line out and back to back strikeouts to end the threat and the inning. Japan is holding a 4-0 lead over Mexico after four innings.
Yamamoto has retired eight batters in a row and he’s only thrown 38 pitches (29 strikes) so far. He’s in a great position to go the distance for Japan. Still, 4-0 Japan after three innings.
Japan has been aggressive at the plate and despite getting another runner in scoring position can’t add to the team. Still, 4-0, Japan after the top of the third inning.
Yamaoto got the first out via a ground out and then struck out the final two batters of the inning to bring his strikeout total to four. Through two innings, he’s only allowed two hits and no runs.
Japan got more runners in scoring position (3-for-8 with 4 RBI with RISP for game so far) but Mexico’s Iker Castaneda limits the impact and keeps the score the same, 4-0, Japan, after top of second inning.
Eight teams are trying to stay alive in the double-elimination bracket. Here’s what is ahead for the quest for this year’s title.
Mexico mounted a response to Japan in the bottom of the first by getting a runner to second with only one out. However, Japan starter Yushi Yamamoto gets out of the jam with a pop out and a strikeout. After one full inning, Japan leads 4-0.
Japan’s Yushi Yamamoto had an RBI-single and Tensei Yazawa supplied the big blast (a three-run home run) to give Japan the big lead after the top of the first inning. Japan gets four runs on five hits.
It’s win or go home for eight teams on Tuesday at the Little League World Series. Japan and Mexico start off the action on ESPN.
The first game on Tuesday, Aug. 19 starts at 1 p.m. ET with the final game starting at 7 p.m. ET. All games take place in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in either Howard J. Lamade Stadium or Little League Volunteer Stadium.
All times Eastern
The Little League World Series began Wednesday, Aug. 13 and concludes on Sunday, Aug. 24. Games will be presented across ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. Viewers can also watch with Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.
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