Bridgewater (Massachusetts) and Portland (Maine) will play in the Little League New England Regionals semifinals on Monday morning at 9 a.m.
The Little League World Series in Williamsport is oh-so-close, as both teams are two wins shy of going to the worldwide showcase.
Monday's game will be broadcast on ESPN. The winner advances to the winner-take-all regional championship on Thursday at 7 p.m. (ESPN). The loser will play in an elimination Wednesday at 1 p.m. (ESPN).
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What's next for Bridgewater, Portland?
With the win, Portland advances to the regional championship game, and will play the winner of Bridgewater vs. Salem (N.H). The championship will air on ESPN Thursday at 7 p.m.
For Bridgewater, it will play Salem on Wednesday at 1 p.m., which can be watched live on ESPN. The loser of that game goes home, and the winner advances for a rematch with Maine in the championship.
FINAL: Portland 7, Bridgewater, 1
Bridgewater went down in order to give Portland the 7-1 win and will advance to the championship game on Thursday. Jeremiah Gonzalez reached on an error with one out, but David King closed out the game for Portland, striking out the next two batters.
After scoring 9 runs against Burlington on Saturday, Bridgewater was held to just one run by Portland. Louie Bechard had a strong start for Portland to go with a pair of hits and an RBI. Jeremiah Gonzalez kept Bridgewater in the game, allowing two runs through four innings, but Portland pulled away in the fifth.
Bottom of fifth inning: Portland 7, Bridgewater 1
Portland blew the game open with a five-run fifth inning. Emmett O'Brien recorded an RBI-single after two runners reached on slow-rolling infield singles. Eli Peltier then reached first base on an errant throw, which allowed a run to score. Louie Bechard continued his stellar day with an RBI single, and James Minervino drove in another with a single.
Louie Armstrong continued the two-out rally with an RBI-single to record his third hit and RBI of the day.
Middle of fifth inning: Portland 2, Bridgewater, 1
Louie Bechard struck out Logan Brady for the first out of the fifth, and was his last batter he faced due to the 85 pitch limit. David King came in for relief to retire the next two batters. Bechard struck out eight over four and a third innings, with 85 pitches. Bridgewater is down to its last at bats.
End of fourth inning: Portland 2, Bridgewater, 1
Portland regained the lead thanks to Charlie Armstrong, who tallied his second RBI-double of the day, driving in James Minervino, who drew a walk to reach base. Jeremiah Gonzalez retired the next two batters to keep the deficit at 1, and has only thrown 60 pitches through four innings.
Middle of fourth inning: Portland 1, Bridgewater 1
Bridgewater fed off the momentum from Brendan Moyer's throw out at home last inning to tie the game. Hunter McHargue reached on an infield single, Jake Florence drew a walk and Brycen Buker was hit by a pitch the next at bat to load the bases. Luke Fantasia reached first after an infield hit to drive in McHargue. Louie Bechard limited the damage however, getting out of the bases loaded jam with only one run allowed after a flyout to left field ended the inning.
End of third inning: Portland 1, Bridgewater, 0
Jeremiah Gonzalez worked out of a jam thanks to a throw out at home plate by Brendan Moyer from right field. With runners on second and third with no outs, Gonzalez struck out Ian Fitzgerald before Eli Peltier flew out to right field. Demetrius Brown-Phillips was out at home plate after tagging at third base to end the inning.
Middle of third inning: Portland 1, Bridgewater, 0
Louie Bechard now has 5 strikeouts through three innings pitched after striking out two batters in the third. Brendan Moyer drew a lead off walk for Bridgewater but was out at second after a fielders choice.
End of second inning: Portland 1, Bridgewater 0
Bridgewater starting pitcher Jeremiah Gonzalez recorded a 1, 2, 3 inning in the second with only 11 pitches to keep it a one-run game for his team heading into the top of the third.
Middle of second inning: Portland 1, Bridgewater, 0
Cam Goodwin got Bridgewater's first hit of the game with a line drive single up the middle. Louie Bechard retired the next two batters to get out of the inning. He has struck out three of the first six batters.
End of first inning: Portland 1, Bridgewater 0
Louie continued his solid start to the game with a single for Maine's first hit of the game, and scored on an RBI double to put Maine on the scoreboard first.
Middle of first inning: Bridgewater 0, Maine 0
Bridgewater was retired in order in the top of the first inning, including two strikeouts by Maine starting pitcher Louie Bechard.
How to watch
Bridgewater vs. Portland will be live on ESPN at 9 a.m., and will also be available to stream on ESPN+. Each of the remaining games will also be on ESPN.
Results from first elimination game
New Hampshire beat Vermont 6-4 on Sunday to stay alive in the tournament. Vermont is now eliminated. The loser of Bridgewater vs. Portland will play New Hampshire on Wednesday at 7 p.m. on ESPN.
Time and temp
It is currently 74 degrees and sunny in Bristol, Connecticut with just under 40 minutes until Bridgewater and Portland play ball. Its expected to remain sunny for the entirety of the game, with the temperature rising just a few degrees by first pitch at 9 a.m.
How Bridgewater got here
Bridgewater's summer run started by winning the District 7 final. Next came the Section 2 title. On July 27, Bridgewater won the state title for the first time by defeating Acton-Boxboro.
Bridgewater opened the regionals with a decisive 9-0 win over Burlington (Vermont). Brendan Moyer and Jeremiah Gonzalez combined to throw a shutout in that one while Bridgewater smacked 13 hits and did not commit an error.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Bridgewater (MA) vs. Portland (ME) at Little League New England Regionals. Play-by-play
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