Kanta Iwashita hit a two-run home run and Sho Tanaka had two hits and two runs as Japan earned an 11-0 victory over Puerto Rico in four innings to open their Little League World Series on Thursday in Williamsport, Pa.
Iwashita also pitched four strong innings for Japan, giving up just one hit and striking out eight with one walk.
Japan finished the game with just six hits, capitalizing on four Puerto Rico errors to run up the score. The team from Tokyo rang up five runs in the first inning and six more in the third.
Jonyel Cordero had the only hit for the team from Guayama, Puerto Rico, which drops into the consolation bracket to face Canada on Saturday. Japan will face Friday’s winner between Mexico and Venezuela.
Nevada 9, New York 1
Wyatt Erickson tossed a complete game and the team from Henderson, Nevada, scored three runs in the third inning and five runs in the fifth to defeat New York.
On top of his stellar pitching, Erickson was also responsible for a two-run hit during the third inning after teammate Russell McGee drove in the first run of the game.
The only run for the team from Staten Island, N.Y., scored came on Stephen Grippo’s single in the fourth inning.
–Field Level Media