The 2025 Little League World Series kicked off on Wednesday, Aug. 13 with four games across the U.S. and international brackets.
In total, 20 teams will take part in this summer tradition that concludes on Aug. 24, with the final two squads left standing competing for the championship.
Pitcher Luca Pellegrini and Connecticut got the best of Shane Grawe and Texas in the final game of the day. Pellegrini pitched all six innings in the game, allowing just one hit while striking out 11. Grawe held his own against Connecticut, allowing just two hits and an earned run while striking out 11 in five innings pitched.
LLWS 2025 scores, schedule today
United States bracket
Wednesday, Aug. 13
Game 2: Nevada 16, Illinois 1
Game 4: Connecticut 1, Texas 0
International Bracket
Wednesday, Aug. 13
Game 1: Venezuela 5, Puerto Rico 0
Game 3: Panama 7, Australia 2
Final: Connecticut 1, Texas 0
Luca Pellegrini and Connecticut earned a shutout victory over Texas. Pellegrini threw a strike to record the final out of the game and complete his six-inning, one-hitter.
Connecticut will play Hawai’i on Friday.
Texas’ no-hitter through, Connecticut scores
It may have taken five innings, but we finally saw our first hit of the game. Texas pitcher Shane Grawe allowed his first hit off the bat of Connecticut’s Jimmy Taxiltaridis. Unfortunately, Taxiltaridis would get thrown out at third attempting to advance on a dropped third strike. All hope for a run looked lost for Connecticut, but just one batter later, a single would drive in Dante Madera for the first run of the game. It was a very close play at the plate, but replay showed that Madera was in fact safe, giving Connecticut the all important first run of the contest.
Two no-hitters going on in Williamsport
After three games where the victor put up at least five runs, we’ve got ourselves a good ol’ fashioned pitcher’s duel in the final game of Day 1. Both Connecticut and Texas’ pitchers are both dominating their opponents. Infact, through three-and-a-half innings, neither pitcher has even allowed a hit. There has also only been one error on both sides, making it even more difficult to get on base.
This game may very well come down to which team can break through first. This has the making of a 1-0 if anyone has ever seen one.
FINAL: Panama 7, Australia 2
Panama won this game on the strength of a monster fourth inning, tallying five runs in that frame alone. Australia’s defense certainly played a role in this outcome as well. The Aussies totaled six errors on the day, granting Panama several more opportunities to score than they would have had.
Outside of their defense, Australia had several bright spots. This could be a team to look out for as the tournament progresses. If they can improve their defense, Australia could be one of the most dangerous teams in the loser’s bracket moving forward.
Australia notches second run
Trailing by six in the fifth inning, Australia needed to put together something for any hope at a comeback. Well, they got something. It may just be one run, but come the sixth inning, perhaps that one run could make the difference.
Australia still trails 7-2, but they’ve proven capable of getting to the Panama pitching. We head to the sixth.
Panama puts together massive fourth inning
What was a close game became much more difficult for the Australians. Panama tallied four runs before recording their second out. Panama would add a fifth run on an error from the Australia second baseman.
Despite the crooked number, it actually could have been much worse for Australia, as Panama left two runners on base to end the inning. It took a great play at short and an even better pick at first in order to secure the final out. Australia fans breathed a major sigh of relief after the play.
We head to the bottom of the fourth. Panama leads 7-1.
Panama hits first home run of LLWS
A long finish to the first United States game delayed a lot of fans from watching Panama vs. Australia. In fact, viewers missed the entirety of the first inning, where Panama made a statement, hitting a two-run home run to kick the game off, the first home run of the tournament.
Australia would retaliate, picking up a run of their own in the bottom of the first, but they still trail 2-1, heading into the second inning.
FINAL: Nevada 16, Illinois 1
This was a statement win from Nevada, announcing to every other team that they are here and here to stay. Eighteen hits, sixteen runs. It just wasn’t fair in the sixth inning. Even though Illinois put up a run in the sixth, it was far too little too late.
Nevada advances to face the Northwest region in the second round on Aug. 15.
Nevada explodes before bottom of the sixth
After scoring five runs in the first two innings, Nevada’s offense went silent for the next three. However, needing just three outs left to put away Illinois, the Nevada offense decided to give their pitchers a little more run support. And by a little, we mean eleven runs. If it wasn’t the sixth inning, this inning alone would have triggered the ten-run mercy rule.
The hits just kept on coming. Nevada was not just walking, they were smoking the baseball, putting up extra base hit after extra base hit, constantly driving in runs. At one point, twelve hitters were able to reach base consecutively. Nevada tallied five doubles in the inning.
Nevada pitcher Gallegos didn’t need much help. After all, he was throwing a shutout before getting pulled in the sixth due to the pitch count. However, you can never have too much run support. Nevada heads into the bottom of the sixth up 16-0.
Nevada two-out rally plants four runs
With two outs in the bottom of the second, Nevada put together an outstanding rally, tallying two singles and two walks to bring home their second run in as many innings.
The second run prompted an Illinois pitching change with shortstop Brody Herold heading to the mound. The change didn’t help though. Nevada’s Dustin Gruesel drilled a single to left center field, driving in two more runs and leaving runners on the corner for the top of the order.
Nevada would score one more run to put themselves up by five. Finally, the inning would end on a fly ball to center field, but the massive damage had been done. It’s Illinois’ turn to put up a crooked number. They trail 5-0.
Illinois leaves them loaded
Looking to get that run right back, Illinois was doing well, loading the bases in the bottom of the first with only one out. However, Nevada pitcher Garrett Gallegos came up clutch, racking up two strikeouts to strand the runners on the bases. Nevada maintains their 1-0 lead.
Nevada off to hot start
It didn’t take long for the offense to get going on the American side. A leadoff walk and a single put two runners on with no one out in the top of the first inning.
Illinois had an opportunity to limit the threat. A taylor-made double play ball ended up with an errant throw, putting runners on the corners. Two pitches later, a wild pitch would allow Brooks Fescher to score, and moving Cache Malan to second.
Nevada would not be able to bring Malan home, but the run is already giving them some momentum. As we’ve already seen, one run can be more than enough to win in Williamsport.
FINAL: Venezuela 5, Puerto Rico 0
A dominant pitching performance from Venezuela was the story for this game. The team’s strong pitching was coupled with immaculate defense and timely hitting, granting Venezuela a strong win to start tournament play.
Puerto Rico had several good moments, but could not find a way to cross the plate. Don’t let the final score fool you though. Puerto Rico had nearly as many hits as Venezuela (four to Venezuela’s five). However, their inability to drive in runners when they reached base was the difference in this game.
Venezuela will play next on August 15 against Canada. Puerto Rico, meanwhile, moves to the loser’s bracket. They’ll play on August 16 against the loser between Mexico and Taipei.
Samuel Castillo pulls off immaculate double play
After a leadoff single from Puerto Rico, Venezuela was looking to halt any hope of a comeback. Samuel Castillo did it on his own. With a ball hit sharply down the left field line, Castillo snagged it out of the air diving to his right, then firing across the diamond to double up the runner at first.
Castillo’s leather work was a massive momentum swing, and the momentum was already in Venezuela’s favor. It remains 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth.
Puerto Rico keeps runs off the board
The bottom of the fourth inning started off as well as it could for a trailing Puerto Rico team. However, with two outs, a walk and an error put a runner in scoring position, giving Venezuela a chance to extend their 3-0 lead.
It appeared to be an infield hit at first glance, with Puerto Rico curious how they didn’t get an out. However, after some collaboration from the umpires, they decided that the inning was over. Puerto Rico fans breathed a big sigh of relief. They’ll head to the top of the fifth, down 3-0, looking to mount a comeback.
What time is the Little League World Series today?
The first game Wednesday is at 1 p.m. ET with the final game starting at 7 p.m. ET, with Fairfield, Connecticut, taking on Richmond, Texas, to conclude the day.
Little League World Series 2025: TV, time and how to watch
The Little League World Series begins Wednesday with four games across the U.S. and international brackets. Games will be presented across ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+. Viewers can also watch with Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.
Times: Coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET with the final game starting at 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Streaming: ESPN+ (international games), Fubo
Watch the Little League World Series with Fubo
Previous LLWS champions
Here are the last 20 LLWS champions by year:
2024: Lake Mary, Florida
2023: El Segundo, California
2022: Honolulu, Hawaii
2021: Taylor, Michigan
2019: River Ridge, Louisiana
2018: Honolulu, Hawaii
2017: Tokyo-Kitasuna, Japan
2016: Maine-Endwell, New York
2015: Tokyo-Kitasuna, Japan
2014: Seoul, South Korea
2013: Musashi-Fuchu, Japan
2012: Tokyo-Kitasuna, Japan
2011: Huntington Beach, California
2010: Edogawa Minami, Japan
2009: Chula Vista, California
2008: Waipahu, Hawaii
2007: Warner Robins, Georgia
2006: Columbus, Georgia
2005: ‘Ewa Beach, Hawaii
2004: Willemstad, Curacao
How does the LLWS work?
The Little League World Series is an annual summer tournament hosted in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, home of the first ever LLWS champions in 1947. The tournament is a double-elimination tournament, meaning each team can lose one game before being eliminated from contention following their second loss.
The tournament is also broken up between United States and international brackets, with the championship always being between the U.S. champs and an international opponent.
Which teams are in the tournament this year?
United States teams:
Great Lakes Region: Clarendon Hills, Illinois
Metro Region: Fairfield, Connecticut
Mid-Atlantic Region: Upper Uwchlan Township, Pennsylvania
Midwest Region: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Mountain Region: Las Vegas, Nevada
New England Region: Braintree, Massachusetts
Northwest Region: Bonney Lake, Washington
Southeast Region: Irmo, South Carolina
Southwest Region: Richmond, Texas
West Region: Honolulu, Hawaii
International Teams:
Asia-Pacific Region: Chinese Taipei
Australia Region: Brisbane, Queensland
Canada Region: Vancouver, British Columbia
Caribbean Region: Santa Cruz, Aruba
Europe-Africa Region: Brno, Czechia
Japan Region: Tokyo, Japan
Latin America Region: Barquisimeto, Venezuela
Mexico Region: Chihuahua, Mexico
Panama Region: Arraijan, Panama
Puerto Rico Region: Yubucoa, Puerto Rico
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