The 2024 Little League World Series is rapidly approaching its conclusion, which means these are the game sand moments everybody came to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to see. There are four games on the schedule, and the pressure just keeps going up. So much is on the line after a summer-long journey for these baseball teams.
Four teams – Nevada and Texas in the United States bracket and Chinese Taipei and Japan in the international bracket – will play for a spot in the United States and International championship games, which await with one more victory. Four more teams, however, will face the end of their run with a loss on the elimination side of the bracket.
Follow along with USA TODAY's live coverage throughout the day. We'll keep you updated on all the action Wednesday at the Little League World Series.
2024 Little League World Series: Results, schedules, how to watch and stream
After a strong first inning on offense, Venezuela picks up right where they left off in the third. With runners on second and third with no outs, Jonathan Landaeta drilled a double to center field to bring home two more runs and lift Venezuela's lead to 5-0.
Landaeta would come around to score later in the inning as well. After a three spot in the first, they add three more in the second to take a 6-0 lead early.
The bottom of the first is encouraging for Mexico, with multiple runners getting on base. Two hits and a walk loaded the bases, giving Mexico a great chance to claw some runs back.
However, Venezuela kept its nerve, getting out of the jam with a strikeout. It's 3-0 heading into the second inning.
Mexico's pitching change did the trick, with a bouncer to second making for an easy third out. With the bases loaded, this could have gone a lot worse.
Instead, Mexico gets its first at-bat, and they'll need to get things going quickly down 3-0.
Mexico looked to possibly have a double-play opportunity to end the inning without further damage, but a short throw meant just one out.
Venezuela took full advantage, with the next batter driving a hit up the right-field line. That's another run on the board, and now Mexico changes pitchers after the next at-bat ends with the bases loaded. It's 3-0, and if Mexico can't get another out right away, this game could get out of reach.
Venezuela is looking strong so far, getting runners on board early and often. After four at-bats, a solid single brings one runner in and moves another to third, with Mexico getting just one out in the process.
A couple of pitches later, and a looping single to left field brings in another run. It's 2-0 Venezuela, with runners at first and second.
Volunteer Stadium is ready for today's third LLWS game, with Venezuela taking on Mexico.
Last week, Venezuela trounced Mexico 10-0 in the winner's bracket, but Mexico has recovered to post an 8-0 win over Canada and a 6-4 victory against Cuba. Venezuela, meanwhile, fell 2-1 to Japan, setting up a rematch.
Texas gets it done, getting through Nevada's final three batters to claim a 5-2 win.
They'll advance to the United States championship game on August 24 at Lamade Stadium. Nevada, meanwhile, has a game on deck tomorrow. They'll take on the winner of the game between Florida and Hawaii at 7 p.m. ET tonight.
It's still 5-2 at Lamade, with both teams seeing some sharp pitching performances.
Texas finally gets a runner aboard in the bottom of the fifth with an impressive triple, but Nevada avoids falling further behind by getting the next batter to fly out.
The top of the sixth is coming up, and Nevada needs to get three runs or more to keep this game going.
The next batter smacks a hit up the third-base line, bringing in another run. It's another close call as Nevada nearly makes the catch at third, but the trouble isn't over for Nevada.
This time, it's a sacrifice fly to center to make it 5-2 before Nevada finally gets out of the inning with a pop-up.
Some alert baserunning gives Texas the lead again in the bottom of the third. A hit into the seam between center and right field advances the runner, and when the throw into the infield goes awry, Texas pounced.
It's a tight play at the plate, but Texas takes a 3-2 lead. With runners on first and second and only one out, this might be a pivotal inning in this game.
Japan can't complete the comeback. Their last swing of the bat made contact, but the ball rolled to second for a force-out at first.
The umpires are gathering for one last check after Japan challenged the call, but replays show that the throw made it in time.
Chinese Taipei will advance to the International bracket final on August 24. Japan, meanwhile, will go into the loser's bracket, where they will face the winner of Venezuela vs. Mexico (which will start at 5 p.m. ET today). The winner of that game will be Chinese Taipei's opponent.
Over at Volunteer Stadium, Japan went down to its final out before getting on the board. A hit that sneaked up the third-base line brings in a baserunner from second. The hit is good for a double, and it's 3-1. Japan needs two more runs to keep this game going.
Texas gets a strikeout as play resumes, but the next at-bat ends with an infield single. Close call at first, but Nevada brings another player across home plate.
However, the second ends 2-2, as a long fly ball gets Texas the out it needed to escape trouble.
Nevada quickly loaded the bases, and it's 2-1 after Texas can only get one out before giving up a walk.
Texas has made a pitching change, but the bases remain loaded in the top of the second.
Texas got its first two baserunners on in the bottom of the first inning and took a 1-0 on Nevada with a sacrifice fly. Texas then tacked on another run with a clutch, two-out RBI single. Nevada faces a 2-0 hole as it heads to the top of the second inning.
Japan heads to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning trailing Chinese Taipei, 3-0. Japan has gotten runners on base since falling behind in the first inning, but thus far hasn't been able to get the key hit to ignite its comeback.
It's still scoreless between Nevada and Texas after Texas escaped an early jam that saw Nevada get two hits and two runners in scoring position.
The second game of the day in Williamsport, Pennsylvania has begun. The winner between Nevada and Texas advances to Saturday's United States championship game.
Japan looked to be cruising through the top of the fourth inning before issuing two two-out walks. Chinese Taipei’s Hu Yen-Chun then made it pay off with a double down the third base line that held up after review. Chinese Taipei’s lead over Japan is now 3-0.
The rain is falling again in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, but Chinese Taipei and Japan are through three innings. Japan got runners on first and second in the bottom-half of the inning, but Ciou Zhi-Kai got out of the pickle with a strikeout on a 3-2 count. Chinese Taipei still leads 2-0 as we head to the fourth inning.
Chinese Taipei manager Lee Cheng-Ta made the strategic move to pull starting pitcher and ace Lai Cheng-Xi with one out in the top of the third inning and Chinese Taipei nursing a 2-0 lead over Japan. Since Cheng-Xi hasn't thrown 65 pitches, he is still eligible to pitch again on Saturday. Lefthander Ciou Zhi-Kai has come on in relief.
Here's what it looked like when Chinese Taipei jumped out to a 2-0 lead on Japan during the top of the first inning:
Chinese Taipei was threatening again in the top of the third inning, getting runners on the corners with one out. But shortstop Yuzuki Ozawa tracked down a sharp grounder up the middle and pulled off a nifty double play by himself to get Japan out of the inning still down just 2-0.
Japan gets a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second and Chinese Taipei pitcher Lai Cheng-Xi worked around a one-out walk. We head to the third inning with Chinese Taipei leading Japan, 2-0.
Chinese Taipei escaped from the first inning with its 2-0 lead intact, striking out two Japan batters after giving up a single.
After a 27-minute rain delay, Japan pitcher Yuki Tsuji recovered from a rocky start in which he gave up hits to the first three Chinese Taipei batters. He recorded consecutive outs to escape the top of the first inning having limited Chinese Taipei to just two runs. Japan trails 2-0 heading into its first at-bat of the game.
The Little League World Series announced that the game between Chinese Taipei and Japan is scheduled to resume at 1:45 p.m. ET.
ESPN announcer Mike Monaco said the forecast in Williamsport, Pennsylvania calls for heavy rain, but officials are hopeful it will be brief. The Weather Channel radar indicates the rain could stop as soon as 1:45 p.m. ET. Chinese Taipei currently leads Japan, 1-0, in the top of the first inning of the first game at the 2024 Little League World Series on Wednesday. We'll keep you updated on when play will resume.
Chinese Taipei jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Japan in the top of the first inning, highlighted by an RBI double from Yu Chia-Jui. But just as soon as Japan recorded its first out, the tarps were rolled out and the game was delayed due to rain in the area.
The first of four Wednesday games have started in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Chinese Taipei and Japan, both undefeated in this tournament, are getting things underway. They're playing for the chance to make the international championship game on Saturday.
2024 Little League World Series: Time, TV, streaming and how to watch
All 39 games of the Little League World Series will be broadcast on one of ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC, with streaming options including ESPN+ , the ESPN app and Fubo , which offers a free trial. Coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET.
HOW TO WATCH: Catch the Little League World Series with a Fubo subscription
All times Eastern
- Chinese Taipei vs. Japan, 1 p.m. | Volunteer Stadium | ESPN
- Nevada vs. Texas, 3 p.m. | Lamade Stadium | ESPN
- Mexico vs. Venezuela, 5 p.m. | Volunteer Stadium | ESPN
- Florida vs. Hawaii, 7 p.m. | Lamade Stadium | ESPN
The LLWS started with 10 teams in both the international and U.S. brackets. Since the start of the LLWS, 12 teams have been eliminated, six from each side of the bracket.
Eliminated from the U.S. half of the bracket are the Midwest Region (South Dakota), New England Region (New Hampshire), Great Lakes Region (Illinois), Northwest Region (Washington), Mid-Atlantic Region (Pennsylvania) and Metro region (Staten Island, New York).
In the international side of the bracket, six more teams are eliminated: Puerto Rico, Canada, Europe-Africa (Czech Republic), Australia, Cuba and Aruba.
The LLWS championship game is slated for Sunday, Aug. 25, at 3 p.m. ET. The third-place consolation game will take place the same day at 10 a.m. ET.
The international and U.S. championship games — which serve as the semifinals to Sunday's championship game — will take place on Saturday, Aug. 24 at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. ET, respectively.
The Little League World Series is split into two brackets: the United States bracket and the international bracket. Each bracket will play out their own individual tournaments, with the winner from each bracket facing each other in the championship.
The U.S. and international brackets are double-elimination brackets, meaning a team can progress in a separate elimination bracket after losing its first game. The elimination bracket winner plays the winners' bracket winner in its respective – U.S. or international – final for the chance to play in the LLWS championship.
In other words, a team must lose twice before it is eliminated from the tournament.
- Great Lakes - Hinsdale Little League - Hinsdale, Illinois
- Metro - South Shore Little League - Staten Island, New York
- Mid-Atlantic - Council Rock Newtown Little League - Newtown, Pennsylvania
- Midwest - Sioux Falls Little League - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Mountain - Paseo Verde Little League - Henderson, Nevada
- New England - Salem Little League - Salem, New Hampshire
- Northwest - South Hill Little League - Puyallup, Washington
- Southeast - Lake Mary Little League - Lake Mary, Florida
- Southwest - Boerne Little League - Boerne, Texas
- West - Central East Maui Little League - Wailuku, Hawaii
- Asia-Pacific - Kuei-Shan Little League - Taoyuan City, Chinese Taipei
- Australia - Hills Little League - Sydney, New South Wales
- Canada - Whalley Little League - Surrey, British Columbia
- Caribbean - Aruba Center Little League - Santa Cruz, Aruba
- Cuba - Santa Clara Little League - Villa Clara, Cuba
- Europe-Africa - South Czech Republic Little League - Brno, Czech Republic
- Japan - Johoku Little League - Tokyo, Japan
- Latin America - Cardenales Little League - Barquisimeto, Venezuela
- Mexico - Matamoros Little League - Tamaulipas, Mexico
- Puerto Rico - Radames Lopez Little League - Guayama, Puerto Rico
Teams from the United States have dominated the Little League World Series as of late, having won each of the last five dating back to 2017. The last international team to win the tournament was Japan, who beat Lufkin, Texas 12-2 in just five innings in the 2017 final.
List of past winners:
Results date back to 2010 LLWS.
- 2023: El Segundo, Calif.
- 2022: Honolulu
- 2021: Taylor, Mich.
- 2020: Canceled due to COVID
- 2019: River Ridge, La.
- 2018: Honolulu
- 2017: Tokyo
- 2016: Maine-Endwell, N.Y.
- 2015: Tokyo
- 2014: Seoul, South Korea
- 2013: Tokyo
- 2012: Tokyo
- 2011: Huntington Beach, Calif.
- 2010: Tokyo
Here is the full 2024 LLWS bracket, courtesy of the Little League World Series:
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Little League World Series live: Updates, highlights from Wednesday elimination games
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