2026 Little League Softball World Series: August 5 Elimination Games Recap

Updated: August 5, 2026 | Location: Greenville, North Carolina | Tournament: Little League Softball World Series (LLSWS)

What Happened Today? (The Quick Version)

Today was Elimination Day: Part 2 at the 2026 Little League Softball World Series! Two "win-or-go-home" games were played:

Game	Bracket	Teams	Final Score	Result
Game 1	Orange	New Jersey (USA) vs Japan (Asia-Pacific)	11 – 0	New Jersey wins, Japan eliminated
Game 2	Purple	Washington (USA) vs Canada	9 – 1	Washington wins, Canada eliminated

ELI5 Explanation: Think of it like a spelling bee — if you miss a word, you’re out. Today, Japan and Canada missed their "words" and have to go home. New Jersey and Washington survive to play again on Friday, August 7!

Orange Bracket: New Jersey Crushes Japan in Rematch

The Story So Far

Sunday, Aug 2: Japan beat New Jersey 4–1 (Opening Day)
Wednesday, Aug 5: New Jersey gets revenge — 11–0 shutout!

Game Highlights

Jaelyn Brown (Pitcher): 6 innings, 2 hits, 0 runs, 3 strikeouts — dominant!
Big 6th Inning: New Jersey scored 8 runs in one inning!
Top Hitters:
- Sophia Tolentino: 3-for-3, RBI, Run
- Aviana Gay: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, Run
- Gia Gatto: 2-for-2, 2 RBI, Run
- Briella Bognar: RBI single + scored on wild play

Key Moment: Layla Bailey got her first hit of the tournament — a two-run double that made it 7–0!

What’s Next for New Jersey?

Friday, August 7 @ 6:00 PM ET on ESPN2 — another elimination game!

Purple Bracket: Washington Eliminates Canada

Washington’s Rollercoaster Week

Date	Result	Note
Sun, Aug 2	Lost (run-ruled)	Tough start
Tue, Aug 4	Beat Texas 7–3	Eliminated Texas!
Wed, Aug 5	Beat Canada 9–1	Scored in 5 of 6 innings

Star of the Game: Madison Locke

She did everything for Washington:

Role	Stats
Pitcher	6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 12 K
Batter	2-for-3, RBI, Run

ELI5: "IP" = Innings Pitched, "K" = Strikeouts, "BB" = Walks.
So she threw 6 full innings, struck out 12 batters, walked zero, and only gave up 1 run. Plus she got 2 hits!

Other Key Contributors

Janessa Malone: 3-for-3, 2 RBI, Run
Layla Bailey: 1-for-2, 2 RBI (first hit of tournament = big double!)
Team: Scored in every inning except 1st and 5th

What’s Next for Washington?

Friday, August 7 @ 3:00 PM ET on ESPN — next elimination game!

How to Watch the Rest of the Tournament

Platform	Details
TV	ESPN, ESPN2, ABC
Stream	ESPN+
Dates	August 2–9, 2026
Location	Greenville, North Carolina

Want cable-free streaming? Watch LLSWS games with Fubo (affiliate link)

Current Bracket Standings (Through Aug 5)

Orange Bracket Teams Still Alive

Asia-Pacific: Kinki Softball LL (Sangō, Japan) — eliminated today
Central Region Champion — TBD
Latin America: Guayama Softball LL (Guayama, Puerto Rico)
Mid-Atlantic: Toms River LL (New Jersey) — ALIVE
New England Region Champion — TBD
West Region Champion — TBD

Purple Bracket Teams Still Alive

Canada: OnField LL (Repentigny, Quebec) — eliminated today
Europe & Africa: Emilia Romagna LL (Bologna, Italy) — eliminated Aug 4
North Carolina Region Champion — TBD
Northwest: Snohomish LL (Washington) — ALIVE
Southeast Region Champion — TBD
Southwest Region Champion — TBD

Note: Some region champions haven’t played yet or info wasn’t in today’s update.

Recent Results Recap

August 4 Results (Yesterday)

Game	Matchup	Score	Bracket
9	Washington vs Texas	7–3	Purple
10	New Jersey vs Connecticut	13–3	Orange
11	Japan vs California	1–0	Orange
12	Canada vs Italy	2–1	Purple

August 2 Results (Opening Day)

Japan beat New Jersey 4–1
Other opening games played (not detailed in this update)

Important Terms Explained (ELI5 Glossary)

Term	Simple Meaning
Run-ruled	Game ends early because one team is winning by a LOT (usually 10+ runs)
Elimination game	Lose = you’re out of the tournament
Bracket	One side of the tournament tree (Orange or Purple)
IP	Innings Pitched (how long a pitcher played)
K	Strikeout (batter swings and misses 3 times)
RBI	Run Batted In (hit that helps a teammate score)
Double	Hit where batter reaches 2nd base safely
Sacrifice fly	Batter hits fly ball, gets out, but runner scores

Summary

Today was all about COMebacks and DOMINANCE!

New Jersey avenged their opening-day loss to Japan with an 11–0 shutout, fueled by an 8-run 6th inning and a gem from pitcher Jaelyn Brown.

Washington continued their amazing bounce-back — from getting run-ruled Sunday to eliminating two teams in a row (Texas then Canada). Madison Locke was unstoppable: 12 strikeouts + 2 hits!

Both winning teams advance to Friday, August 7 for more elimination games.

Japan and Canada are headed home.

FAQ: Your Questions Answered

1. What does "run-ruled" mean?

It’s a mercy rule! If a team is ahead by 10+ runs after 4 innings (or 15+ after 3), the game ends early so the losing team doesn’t have to keep playing a hopeless game.

2. How many teams are in the Little League Softball World Series?

There are 12 teams total — 6 in the Orange Bracket, 6 in the Purple Bracket. Each represents a region (like "Mid-Atlantic" or "Asia-Pacific").

3. Why did New Jersey and Japan play each other twice?

Tournaments often have teams meet in pool play (opening round), then again in elimination rounds if both keep winning/losing in certain ways. It was a rematch!

4. Can I watch the games for free?

You need a cable login for ESPN/ESPN2/ABC, or a subscription to ESPN+ or Fubo (which offers free trials sometimes). Check their websites for current deals.

5. When is the championship game?

The tournament runs August 2–9, so the championship will be on Saturday or Sunday, August 8–9 (exact time/channel TBA as brackets finalize).

Final Thought

Little League isn’t just about winning — it’s about heart.
Washington got crushed Sunday, then won two must-win games. New Jersey lost to Japan, then crushed them in return.
That’s the magic of sports: every game is a new chance.

Stay tuned for Friday’s games — the drama continues!

Article based on USA TODAY Sports coverage of the 2026 Little League Softball World Series. All stats, scores, and quotes preserved from original reporting.

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