Little League Softball World Series: Wednesday’s Big Wins Send Two Teams to Friday Showdown

What Happened on Wednesday?

Wednesday was a huge day at the Little League Softball World Series! Two teams played amazing games and won by a lot. Here’s the quick version:

• Mid-Atlantic Region (Toms River, New Jersey) beat Asia-Pacific Region (Japan) 11–0
• Northwest Region (Snohomish, Washington) beat Canada 9–1

Both teams now move on to play again on Friday — and you can watch them on ESPN!

Game 1: New Jersey Gets Sweet Revenge

The Backstory

On Sunday, the Toms River team from New Jersey lost 4–1 to Kinki Little League from Sangō, Japan. It was a tough start.

The Comeback

On Wednesday, they came back fired up and won 11–0 — a shutout (that means the other team didn’t score at all).

How They Did It

• Big 6th Inning: They scored 8 runs in just one inning! Before that, they were already winning 3–0.
• Pitching Star: Jaelyn Brown threw the whole game (6 innings) and:
  • Allowed only 2 hits
  • Walked only 2 batters
  • Struck out 3

Important Point: In Little League softball, games are 6 innings long (not 9 like in pro baseball). So Jaelyn pitched a complete game shutout — that’s super impressive!

Game 2: Washington Dominates Canada

The Star: Madison Locke

Madison Locke from Snohomish, Washington did everything — she pitched and hit!

On the Mound (Pitching)

• Threw 6 innings
• Allowed 1 run
• Gave up 4 hits
• Zero walks
• 12 strikeouts ← That’s a lot!

At the Plate (Batting)

• Went 2-for-3 (got 2 hits in 3 tries)
• Drove in 1 run (RBI)
• Scored 1 run herself

Important Point: A pitcher who also hits well is called a "two-way player" — like a superhero who can fly and shoot lasers!

What’s Next?

Both winning teams play again on Friday — and both games are on ESPN!

They’ll face the winners of Thursday’s games. The tournament keeps going until one team is crowned World Champion!

Summary

• New Jersey bounced back from a Sunday loss to crush Japan 11–0 behind a shutout from Jaelyn Brown and an 8-run 6th inning.
• Washington rolled past Canada 9–1 thanks to Madison Locke’s amazing pitching (12 Ks!) and timely hitting.
• Both teams play Friday on ESPN — Washington at 3 PM, New Jersey at 6 PM (EST).
• It’s win or go home from here — every game matters!

FAQ

What is the Little League Softball World Series?

It’s a big tournament where the best 12- to 14-year-old softball teams from around the world compete to be world champions.

How many innings are in a Little League softball game?

6 innings — shorter than high school, college, or pro games (which are 7 or 9).

What does “shutout” mean?

When a team doesn’t let the other team score any runs the whole game.

What’s a “two-way player”?

A player who’s great at pitching AND hitting — like Madison Locke!

Where can I watch the next games?

Friday at 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM EST on ESPN — grab some popcorn and cheer them on!