It was an action-packed opening day for the 2023 Little League State Championships at Knox! Head to our State Champs hub for the latest results and schedules, and check out GameChanger recaps from the first day below.
Little League Major
Athletics 10, Mariners 0
Mariners had a tough time generating runs on Friday, dropping their game with Athletics 10-0. A single by Ezekial Saville in the first inning was a positive for Mariners.
Phillip Toye got the start for Athletics. The hurler surrendered zero runs on one hit over two and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking one.
Reuben Lian started the game for Mariners. The hurler allowed four hits and five runs over two and a third innings. Thomas Skinner and Patrick Begic entered the game as relief, throwing one inning and two-thirds of an inning respectively.
Ezekial went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Mariners in hits.
Athletics didn't commit a single error in the field. Reiley Marshall had seven chances in the field, the most on the team.
Twins 5, Rangers 3
Twins scored more runs than Rangers, taking victory on Friday to the tune of 5-3. Rangers opened up scoring in the first inning, when John Gogos singled on a 1-1 count, scoring two runs.
Twins evened things up at two in the bottom of the first when Cooper Vincent singled. Twins pulled away for good with two runs in the third inning as Maisen Ricketts grounded out, scoring two runs.
Beckett Shanks got the start for Twins. The pitcher went one inning, allowing two runs on two hits with three strikeouts.
Tony Huang was on the hill for Rangers. The bulldog lasted two innings, allowing three hits and four runs while striking out three. Chase Potts and John entered the game from the bullpen, throwing two innings and one inning respectively.
Cooper, Beckett, Maisen, and Mason McKelvie all had one hit to lead Twins. The team was sure-handed in the field and didn't commit a single error as Maisen had the most chances with 12.
Twins stole seven bases during the game as two players stole more than one. Daniel Hwang led the way with three.
Oscar Haysom led Rangers with two hits in two at-bats.
Mets 8, Athletics 4
Athletics watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in an 8-4 loss to Mets on Friday. Mets scored on a single by Cale Morris and a double by Christian Papadopoulos in the first inning.
Athletics scored four runs in the fifth inning. The offensive onslaught came from a walk by Archer Nicholas and a single by Edison Bush.
Cruize Chase led things off on the mound for Mets. The pitcher surrendered zero runs on one hit over two innings, striking out five and walking one.
Oliver Allen toed the rubber for Athletics. The bulldog lasted two-thirds of an inning, allowing one hit and four runs while striking out two. Joel Roberts, Finn Welte, Archer, and Cooper Schwenke all pitched in relief.
Jacob Tayler, Edison, and Phillip Toye each managed one hit to lead Athletics.
Rangers 6, Mets 5
Mets fought back after falling down by six runs in the third inning. However, the comeback fell just short in a 6-5 defeat to Rangers on Friday. Mets scored four runs in the rally, with RBIs from Lucas Kelly and Cale Morris.
Mets fell behind early in the loss. Rangers scored on a wild pitch and walks by Chase Potts and Cooper Bicknell in the first inning.
Rangers scored three runs in the third with walks by Chase, John Gogos, and Kai Cottam.
Mets put up three runs in the fifth inning on a stolen base by Cale.
Rafferty Groenendyk led things off on the hill for Rangers. Rafferty went two and two-thirds innings, allowing zero runs on one hit, striking out five and walking zero.
Lucas was on the pitcher's mound for Mets. The bulldog lasted two-thirds of an inning, allowing one hit and three runs while striking out two. Max Tapley, George Steer, and Harvey Ninnis all pitched in relief.
George led Mets, going 2-for-2 at the plate as the team was also solid in the field with no errors. Archie Rose made the most plays with eight.
Oscar Haysom went 2-for-2 to lead Rangers in hits.
Little League Division 2 Development Pool 1
Twins 8, Mets 5
Mets watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in an 8-5 loss to Twins on Friday. Twins scored on a single by Jaxon W and a walk by Oskar G in the first inning.
Mets put up three runs in the second inning on a passed ball. Twins scored four runs in the third inning with RBIs by Jaxon, Luis F, and Oskar.
Tyler T got the start for Twins. The fireballer surrendered one run on zero hits over one and one-third innings, striking out one and walking one.
Ry V was on the hill for Mets, allowing one hit and three runs over one inning with three strikeouts. Teal L, Levi E, and Hayden H contributed in relief.
Hayden and Ry each collected one hit to lead Mets. Jaxon led Twins with two hits in two at-bats and three of the team's 12 stolen bases.
Athletics 16, Rangers 10
Friday's game against Athletics was a heartbreaker for Rangers, as they lost the lead late in a 16-10 defeat. The game was tied at eight with Athletics batting in the top of the third when Charlie F singled on a 1-1 count, scoring one run.
Rangers lost despite out-hitting Athletics eight to seven.
Athletics got on the board in the first inning as Peter B drew a walk, scoring one run. Rangers knotted the game up at eight in the bottom of the second inning when Tyler V singled.
Rangers eventually tallied six runs in the second inning. The offensive onslaught came from singles by Mark N, Riley F, and Tyler, a walk by Tate John S, and a groundout by Elliot F.
Peter led things off on the hill for Athletics. The ace allowed two hits and three runs over one inning, striking out two.
Hayden T started the game for Rangers. Hayden went one-third of an inning, allowing six runs on two hits. Tyler and Mark entered the game from the bullpen, throwing two innings and one inning respectively.
Rangers totaled eight hits. Ewan C and Hugh H had two hits apiece as Rangers stole 11 bases during the game. Finn W led the way with three.
Athletics collected seven hits on the day. Charlie and Harrison P had multiple hits while Peter led with four of the team's 14 stolen bases.
Athletics 10, Mets 8
Athletics took the lead late and defeated Mets 10-8 on Friday. The game was tied at eight with Athletics batting in the bottom of the third when Cooper G drew a walk, scoring one run.
Athletics built a five-run lead in the second inning and then held off the Mets charge. Mets scored five runs in the failed comeback on a single by Ry V, a double by Hayden H, a walk by Levi M, and an error during Spencer T's at-bat.
Mets got their offense started when Ry on a 2-0 count, scoring one run.
Athletics tallied five runs in the second inning with walks by Micah P, Michael J, and Peter B, plus an error on a ball put in play by Harrison P.
Charlie F led things off on the mound for Athletics. The bulldog lasted two-thirds of an inning, allowing two hits and three runs while striking out one.
Grant A started the game for Mets, allowing two hits and four runs over one and two-thirds innings, striking out three and walking one. Spencer and Darcy B entered the game in relief, throwing one inning and one-third of an inning, respectively.
Harrison and Oliver F all had one hit to lead Athletics. The team stole 12 bases during the game as five players stole more than one. Alexander K led the way with two.
Ry went 2-for-2 at the plate to lead Mets in hits. Trace L led Mets with three stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with 11 stolen bases.
Little League Division 2 Development Pool 2
Mariners Teal 23, Belles 12
Belles fell behind early and couldn't come back in a 23-12 loss to Mariners Teal on Friday. Mariners scored on a single by Ryder N, a single by Quinn M, a walk by Gene B, and a single by Teo S in the first inning.
Despite the loss, Belles did collect four hits in the high-scoring game, while Mariners had 14 hits on the way to victory.
Mariners got their offense started in the first inning when Ryder singled on a 0-1 count, scoring two runs.
Mariners scored six runs in the fourth thanks to walks by Teo and Alexander T and singles by Gene and Flynn R.
Ryder led things off on the hill for Mariners, allowing one hit and three runs over one and one-third innings, striking out four.
Evangelynn L was on the mound for Belles, giving up three hits and six runs. Taylor E threw one and two-thirds innings in relief.
Molly R, Mia W, Lucy G, and Hayley D all had one hit to lead Belles. The team tore up the base paths, as two players stole at least two bases. Isabella M led the way with three. Belles didn't commit a single error in the field either.
Mariners racked up 14 hits as Quinn went 3-for-3 and Ryder, Gene, and Flynn had multiple hits too. Mariners stole 13 bases during the game as three players stole more than one. Samuel K led the way with two.
Mariners 18, Mets 3
Sebastian H was clutch at the plate on Friday, driving in five on three hits to lead Mariners past Mets 18-3. Sebastian drove in runs on singles in the first and second and a double in the third.
An early lead helped propel Mariners to victory. They scored on singles by Otis F, Leo W, Sebastian, and Dean R in the first inning.
Mariners added six runs in the third as Max M, Otis, Leo, Sebastian, and Aidan B all moved runners across the plate with RBIs.
Dean got the start for Mariners. The ace lasted two innings, allowing one hit and three runs while striking out four.
Leo N was on the pitcher's mound for Mets. The hurler allowed four hits and six runs. Kristian M threw one-third of an inning in relief out of the bullpen.
Mariners saw the ball well today, racking up 12 hits in the game. Sebastian, Leo, Dean, Aidan, and Otis all managed multiple hits. Sebastian went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead the way as the team was sure-handed and didn't commit a single error. He also made the most plays with six.
Tiare A led Mets with one hit in two at-bats.
Mariners Teal 14, Mariners 9
An early lead helped Mariners Teal win 14-9 on Friday. Mariners Teal scored on a double by Gene B, a walk by Bennet R, a passed ball during Jordan A's at bat, and a single by Alexander T in the first inning.
Both pitching staffs had their hands full, frequently dealing with runners on base. Mariners Teal collected seven hits and Mariners PB had eight.
Mariners Teal notched six runs in the third inning with RBIs from Jordan, Alexander, Samuel K, and Ryder N.
Mariners PB scored three runs in the fourth inning thanks to singles by Griffin L and Leo W and a walk by Sebastian H.
Quinn M led things off on the pitcher's mound for Mariners Teal. Quinn allowed zero hits and three runs over one-third of an inning, striking out one.
Otis F started the game for Mariners PB. Otis went one-third of an inning, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out one and walking zero. Leo, Maddy S, Sebastian, and Aidan B all pitched in relief.
Ryder went 2-for-2 at the plate with two stolen bases to lead Mariners Teal.
Mariners PB saw the ball well today, racking up eight hits in the game, including two apiece for Leo, Griffin, and Sebastian.
Belles 18, Mets 4
Mets watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in an 18-4 loss to Belles on Friday. Belles scored on a walk by Lucy G, a stolen base by Lucy, and a walk by Hayley D in the first inning.
Belles got things started in the first inning. Lucy drew a walk, scoring one run. Belles scored six runs in the third inning with RBIs from Hayley, Mia W, Evangelynn L, Molly R, Alexandra E, and Audrey C.
Mets put up four runs in the third inning on RBIs by Tate S, Henry T, and Leo N.
Mia led things off on the hill for Belles. The hurler lasted one and two-thirds innings, allowing one hit and zero runs while striking out three and walking zero.
Tiare A was on the pitcher's mound for Mets. The pitcher went two-thirds of an inning, allowing five runs on zero hits and striking out two. Guru S threw one-third of an inning in relief. Henry and Mika each collected one hit to lead Mets.
Belles stole 16 bases during the game as six players stole more than one. Isabella M led the way with two. The team was sure-handed and didn't commit a single error as Hayley made the most plays with six.
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