Smithfield beats Nevada in Little League World Series opener; What's next for RI?
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Connor Curtis picked up where he left off.
The 5-foot-10, left-hander retired the first nine batters, eight of them by strikeout, Wednesday afternoon as the Smithfield All-Stars defeated Mountain Region champion Henderson, Nev., 3-1, in the first U.S. Bracket game of the Little League Baseball World Series.
Playing before a crowd of 9,234 at Lamade Stadium, Smithfield moved in front three batters into the bottom of the first and held the lead the rest of the way despite managing just one hit – a fifth-inning bunt single by leadoff hitter Connor Queenan.
Curtis led Smithfield to Williamsport when he struck out 14 while getting all but one out of a combined three-hitter as the Rhode Island champions avenged an earlier, 10-1 loss and beat Massapequa, N.Y., 7-1, in the Metro Region final.
This time, Brayden Castellone got the last two outs, instead of one, on another combined three-hitter. Curtis struck out 15 and Castellone fanned the final batter of the game.
Castellone drove in Queenan with the game’s first run, then scored the second. His RBI came on a groundout. Castellone and Brady McShane started the fourth by each getting hit by pitches and each eventually scored on a wild pitch.
What's next for Rhode Island?
Smithfield will be back in action at Lamade Stadium Friday at 3 p.m. against Southeast Region champion Nolensville, Tenn. The game will be televised by ESPN.
Nevada strikes back
Jaxon McMullin's one-out homer to straight-away center — the first hit of the game — puts Henderson on the board in the top of the fifth.
More: Smithfield team celebrates at Little League World Series Picnic and Grand Slam Parade
Smithfield expands its lead
The Rhode Island champions tacked on a pair of runs in their half of the 4th inning, and head to the final two innings with a 3-0 lead.
Curtis ends threat in the 4th
With Nevada runners on second and third, Smithfield's Connor Curtis dug deep and struck out the final two batters of in the top of the 4th inning to preserve Rhode Island's 1-0 lead.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Little League World Series live coverage: Smithfield vs. Nevada
