The Braintree American Little League team’s opener in Williamsport concluded in defeat after four innings due to the ’10-run rule.’
But the locals’ dream run is still alive.
On Saturday, Braintree American (Massachusetts) played the Southwest representative from Richmond, Texas in the United States elimination bracket
And they came out victorious. Braintree will now play the Northwest region (Bonney Lake, Washington) on Sunday at 9 a.m. The losing team will be eliminated.
This page has play-by-play coverage from Saturday’s game.
When will Braintree American play next?
Massachusetts advances to play the Northwest region (Bonney Lake, Washington) on Sunday at 9 a.m.
FINAL: Massachusetts 7, Texas 3.
Braintree American clinches its first-ever Little League World Series victory and eliminates Texas.
According to ESPN, Braintree American is the first team from Massachusetts to win a game in the Little League World Series since 2009 (Peabody Western).
Top sixth inning – Massachusetts 7, Texas 3.
The safe call stands and is recorded as an infield error as Luke Helmke reaches base safely.
Top sixth inning – Massachusetts 7, Texas 3.
Massachusetts manager Frank Fasoli challenges a safe call at first base with two outs that, if overturned, would end the game.
End fifth inning – Massachusetts 7, Texas 3.
After Gouthro’s hit, the Massachusetts lineup was retired in order. Texas goes to bat for its final chance to manufacture a comeback bid.
Bottom fifth inning – Massachusetts 7, Texas 3.
Colman Gouthro skied a lead-off double over the center fielder’s head and he is in to second base standing up. Texas will bring in right-hander Michael Frankie to pitch.
Mid fifth inning – Massachusetts 7, Texas 3.
Reliever Cam Naumann, who is making his first pitching appearance since before the regional tournament, gets out of the jam for Massachusetts. A slow-rolling ground ball to Colman Gouthro at third base ends the inning as two Texas runners are left on.
Top fifth inning – Massachusetts 7, Texas 3.
Lucas Sontag picked up his third hit of the day for Texas. This one lined to center field to score Joseph Miller from second base as Texas collected its third run.
Top fifth inning – Massachusetts 7, Texas 2.
Joseph Miller hit a lead-off single for Texas. Massachusetts pitcher Frankie Fasoli is relieved by Cam Naumann after 87 pitches. He is next available to pitch on Thursday, if Braintree were to advance.
End fourth inning – Massachusetts 7, Texas 2.
Charlie Doolin hit a lead-off single for Massachusetts, but the inning ends on a double play and a ground ball hit to the pitcher Joseph Miller.
Mid fourth inning – Massachusetts 7, Texas 2.
Frankie Fasoli collects two strikeouts and Colman Gouthro makes a play at third base as the Massachusetts defense completes a scoreless inning.
End third inning – Massachusetts 7, Texas 2.
Texas pitcher Joseph Miller strands three Massachusetts runners on base as he records a fielder’s choice and strikeout to conclude the inning. Massachusetts tallies a pair of runs in the frame.
Bottom third inning – Massachusetts 7, Texas 2.
Jack Cushing reaches on an outfield error — Texas’ fourth error of the game — and Cam Naumann draws a walk. Massachusetts has the bases loaded with one out. Texas will call on the left-handed Joseph Miller to pitch.
Bottom third inning – Massachusetts 7, Texas 2.
Sam Trotta rockets a double to the wall in left-center field to score Fennell and McCarthy.
Bottom third inning – Massachusetts 5, Texas 2.
Ryan Fennell is hit in the back on the first pitch thrown of the frame, and Caden McCarthy draws a walk. Massachusetts has two runners on with no outs.
Mid third inning – Massachusetts 5, Texas 2.
Frankie Fasoli unleashes a roar on his way back to the dugout as he records a swing-and-miss strikeout to end the inning. The Massachusetts right-hander got out of the bases-loaded jam.
Top third inning – Massachusetts 5, Texas 2.
Texas’ Lucas Sontag and Logan Williams hit consecutive singles and Jaxson Packard walks to load the bases with two outs.
End second inning – Massachusetts 5, Texas 2.
Texas center fielder Brayden Carlisle made an athletic grab on a very deep fly ball hit by Colman Gouthro to end the inning. Massachusetts had the bases loaded.
Bottom second inning – Massachusetts 5, Texas 2.
Frankie Fasoli hit a ground ball to the left side of the infield and an error scores Naumann from third.
Bottom second inning – Massachusetts 4, Texas 2.
Logan Needle rips a single to left field to score Cushing from third.
Bottom second inning – Massachusetts 3, Texas 2.
Charlie Doolin draws a walk to load the bases. Jaxson Packard will assume the pitching duties for Texas. Brayden Carlisle will move to center field after throwing 55 pitches.
Bottom second inning – Massachusetts 3, Texas 2.
Jack Cushing and Cam Naumann draw consecutive walks for Massachusetts to lead-off the inning.
Mid second inning – Massachusetts 3, Texas 2.
Frankie Fasoli earned an inning-ending strikeout, his first of the game. Colman Gouthro fielded a ground ball at third base and Caden McCarthy fielded one at shortstop. Texas’ Parker Eaton drew a walk.
End first inning – Massachusetts 3, Texas 2.
Sam Trotta launched a fly ball to left field and it landed at the base of the wall. Henry Kuka was tagged out at home plate on a well-executed relay by Texas’ outfielder Easton Pollard, shortstop Lucas Sontag and catcher Parker Eaton to end Massachusetts’ 3-run burst.
Bottom first inning – Massachusetts 3, Texas 2.
McCarthy slides home safely on a wild pitch to give Massachusetts the lead.
Bottom first inning – Texas 2, Massachusetts 2.
Caden McCarthy mashes a triple down the right-field line to score Gouthro and Fennell.
Bottom first inning – Texas 2, Massachusetts 0.
Colman Gouthro and Ryan Fennell reached on on consecutive errors made by the Texas infield attempting to field well-hit ground balls.
Mid first inning – Texas 2, Massachusetts 0.
The locals will step to the plate in an early deficit. Two Texas runners were left on base in the first inning and Massachusetts’ pitcher Frankie Fasoli tossed 25 pitches.
Top first inning – Texas 2, Massachusetts 0.
Facing a full count on the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Luke Helmke drives a single to center field to score Jaxson Packard from second base.
Top first inning – Texas 1, Massachusetts 0.
Texas’ Brayden Carlisle sharply hit a single to left field to score Lucas Sontag (single) from second base with one out in the inning.
New game time announced
The sky in Williamsport has cleared and players are on the field warming up. The ESPN broadcast said the game will start at 4:29 p.m. It was previously announced to begin at 4:08 p.m.
Weather delay
The Czech Republic vs. Australia game is currently in a delay due to lightning in the area as Australia holds a 5-1 lead with one out in the top of the third inning.
Massachusetts vs. Texas will get underway when Czech Republic vs. Australia concludes.
Pitching matchup
Frankie Fasoli gets the start for Massachusetts. Brayden Carlisle will be on the mound for Texas.
Lineups
Team Massachusetts (Braintree)
No. 15 Logan Needle, 2B
No. 2 Frankie Fasoli, P
No. 19 Colman Gouthro, 3B
No. 4 Ryan Fennell, C
No. 13 Caden McCarthy, 3B
No. 10 Henry Kuka, CF
No. 7 Jack Cushing
No. 16 Sam Trotta, LF
No. 12 Cam Naumann
No. 14 Owen Kippenhan, 1B
No. 9 Trevor Inglis
No. 8 Charlie Doolin RF
Coaches: Frank Fasoli, PJ Kippenhan, Shaun Needle.
Team Texas
No. 4 Lucas Sontag, SS
No. 2 Logan Williams, 2B
No. 3 Brayden Carlisle, P
No. 9 Jaxson Packard, CF
No. 8 Holden Disselkoen, 3B
No. 6 Luke Helmke, RF
No. 7 Benjamin Curtis
No. 10 Michael Frankie
No. 5 Parker Eaton, C
No. 14 Shane Grawe, 1B
No. 13 Joseph Miller
No. 1 Easton Pollard, LF
Coaches: Justin Pollard, Eric Grawe, Justin Carlisle.
How they got here
Braintree swept through its district, sectional, state and regional tournaments prior to clinching the first LLWS berth in the program’s 72-year history. The team carried an 18-game winning streak into its World Series opener on Thursday, August 14, and it was snapped by a 13-0 loss to the Southeast champ (Irmo, South Carolina).
Texas, too, dropped its first game of the Little League World Series vs. the Metro region (Fairfield, Connecticut) on Wednesday, August 13. Connecticut’s Ben Herbst drove in the winning run on an RBI base hit in the fifth inning. There were a combined four hits in the game (3 for Connecticut; 1 for Texas). Texas pitcher Shane Grawe struck out 11 batters and allowed 2 hits and 2 walks in five innings.
How to watch Massachusetts vs. Texas in Little League World Series
All games in the Little League World Series will be broadcast on ESPN and streamed on ESPN+.
Watch the Little League World Series on ESPN+
Watch the Little League World Series on FUBO
Braintree American Little League explores Williamsport
The local stars have been on site at the Little League World Series for one week. In that time, the players traded pins with players on teams from Japan, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Panama and elsewhere in the United States.
On top of hitting the practice fields and batting cages on off days, the players also took part in an Opening Day parade, received autographs from Baseball Hall of Famer Billy Wagner and toured the World of Little League Museum.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Win in Williamsport: Braintree American makes state history at Little League World Series
