Team Texas tops Team Pennsylvania in Little League World Series: highlights, what to know

Team Texas might have had the most impressive 2024 Little League World Series win of any U.S. squad on Thursday, thanks to a hoard of home runs and a string of strikeouts.

"Watch out for Texas," an ESPN announcer proclaimed after Texas' dominant 9-0 win vs. Team Pennsylvania . According to the ESPN broadcast, Boerne Little League came into the game 7-0 since the state tournament, outscoring opponents 62-12. Make that eight straight wins with a 71-12 run differential.

The youngsters from Boerne, which won the Southwest Region , banged out a LLWS-high 12 hits and LLWS-high three home runs. They struck the Pennsylvania lineup out more than 10 times and held Council Rock Newtown Little League to just two hits, with none over the final three-plus innings.

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Team Texas pounced on Team Pennsylvania relievers after ace Saverio Longo was taken off the mound. Longo had to work around baserunners the first two-plus innings, but wasn't near the 85-pitch limit when he was pulled after recording eight outs.

It seems Newtown's manager was trying to save him in the event his team won Thursday, so Longo could pitch Monday. But a game that was 1-0 when Longo left was 3-0 an inning later and 8-0 by the end of the fifth.

So much for that strategy.

Meanwhile, Team Texas was able to conserve its best pitchers and can use them both Monday (we'll get into that later).

FULL GAME COVERAGE: Texas hammers Pennsylvania in 2024 Little League World Series

It was an incredible showing for a team from a town of about 18,000; Boerne, Texas is about 30 miles north of San Antonio and 90 southwest of Austin.

Team Texas will have to wait to find out its next opponent, but are some questions we can answer for now:

When does Texas Little League play next?

Team Texas avoided the first day of games Wednesday, essentially getting a bye in the double-elimination tournament . That means just two more wins puts the squad into the U.S. final.

The Boerne boys can enjoy a full weekend of games in Williamsport, Pennsylvania — including an MLB matchup in town Sunday between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers — before they play again at 7 p.m. Monday (ESPN).

It's a much more relaxing scenario than if they would have lost Tuesday. For example, Newtown can still win it all but has to win at five games over six days, without losing, to make the U.S. final.

MEET THE TEAM: Every player, coach on the Texas roster in 2024 LLWS

Who does Texas Little League play next?

The next opponent will be decided when the Southeast Region, represented by Lake Mary Little League in Florida, plays the Northwest Region, represented by South Hill Little League in Washington, at 7 p.m. Friday.

Team Washington has not yet played in tournament so it will not be weighed down by an pitching restrictions. Team Florida beat Team South Dakota, winners of the Midwest Region, 2-1 on Wednesday. Lake Mary needed a fifth-inning comeback (LLWS games are just six innings) to beat the kids of Sioux Falls Little League. South Dakota jumped out to 1-0 lead before a single with a bases loaded and sacrifice fly gave Team Florida a lead it would not relinquish.

Team Florida will be without the talented James Feliciano on the mound after he threw 80-plus pitches while striking out 11 in five-plus innings.

UPDATED BRACKET: Texas' schedule in 2024 Little League World Series

What are the Little League World Series pitching limits?

Pitchers in the 14 and under age groups can throw a maximum of 85 pitches on any given day before they must be removed. Little League officials use a tiered pitch-count system that designates how much rest a player needs. For example, Feliciano threw more than 76 pitches, so he can't throw again until he gets four calendar days of rest.

For Team Texas, its ace Julian Hurst threw 60 pitches, which means he must rest for three days. It's good Texas doesn't play until Monday because at one point, Hurst struck out four Newtown batters straight and K'd 10 total. Caden Guffey worked around some traffic on the base paths and completed two innings in 35 pitches, which means he only needs one day of rest.

No player can pitch three days in a row, no matter the amount of pitches thrown. Here is how much rest is required for Little Leaguers 14 and under:

• If a player pitches 66 or more pitches in a day, four days of rest is required.
• If a player pitches 51-65 pitches in a day, three days of rest is required.
• If a player pitches 36-50 pitches in a day, two days of rest is required.
• If a player pitches 21-35 pitches in a day, one day of request is required.
• If a player pitches 1-20 pitches in a day, no rest is required.

Highlights from Team Texas' win over Team Pennsylvania

There were plenty of highlights in the runaway victory. Take any one of Hurst's 10 strikeouts, or impressive plays made by Boerne's defense. But people love the long ball.

Guffey hit the first home run of the night on the first pitch of the fourth inning to push the lead to 3-0. He pulled a rocket line drive directly over the left-center wall.

Team Texas appeared to have the game in hand when Kole Newson, son of the team's manager, cranked a 2-1 pitch over the fence in left center field for a grand slam. He flashed a heart to Boerne fans wearing white and orange in the stands. It was the team's second straight game with a four-run homer, according to the ESPN broadcast.

Then in the top of the fifth, Doc Mogford hit his second home run in as many games. He pulled his dinger just inside the left-field foul pole. Mogford hit a grand slam in Boerne's regional victory over Team Louisiana to give the team the lead after falling behind 3-0.

And let's not forget about the defense. Before Guffey hit a home run and Hurst no-hit Pennsylvania for four innings, Guffey recorded six scoreless out. He also handled this hot-shot liner with ease.

Tyler J. Davis can be reached at tjdavis@statesman.com. Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Get access to all of our best content with this tremendous offer .

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Team Texas tops Team Pennsylvania in Little League World Series: highlights, what to know