The Little League World Series returns with a 20-team field that will compete for the international title.
The Smithfield, Rhode Island, Little League team was overpowered Friday in its second game of the tournament, losing 8-1 to the Nolensville, Tennessee, team.
Tennessee got ahead early in the 3 p.m. matchup in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, scoring three runs in the first inning.
Smithfield was down 5-0 in the fourth inning, when Connor Queenan drove in what would be the team's lone run of the game.
Rhode Island's lopsided loss Friday followed a dominant debut performance two days earlier in which Smithfield defeated Henderson, Nevada, by a score of 3-1. Pitcher Connor Curtis struck out 15 of the 16 batters he faced before getting pulled with two outs left in the game Wednesday.
Smithfield manager Eric Gibree, whose offense was held to one hit Wednesday, had told WJAR he expected a different performance in their second game.
“Showed up against New Jersey, bats woke up, I think we had 15 hits," he said ahead of Friday's loss. "So, it comes in waves. The pitching here is fantastic. There’s no secret to that. Hitters are going to struggle. But again, if we can grind out at-bats and get guys on, we can make things interesting."
Smithfield will play again at 11 a.m. Sunday in an elimination game against Mid-Atlantic champion Media, Pa., who defeated New England champion Gray, Maine, on Saturday.
The tournament runs from Aug. 16-27. In all, there are 20 teams -- 10 from the U.S. and 10 international teams.
Click here for our full guide to the 2023 Little League World Series.
