On Sunday, it was the matchup of the century between New York and South Korea. New York coming into this game was looking to finish perfect for the whole Little League season and they got it done. They striked in the 4th inning scoring two but South Korea had something to say about that hitting a homerun in the 5th inning. Thats all South Korea could do because New Yorks pitching was perfect. The final score of the game was New York 2 South Korea 1. So the perfect season was complete (25-0). They were the first US team to win the LLWS since 2011 and they broke the 55 year drought for New York State. That wraps up the LLWS for 2016. Greatest moments of the summer are always spent in Williamsport and I can't wait to cover this next year! 

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By Jake Martino

The greatest week of the year is in its final 3 days... It will for sure be one not to forget. Starting on the International side of the bracket where Panama (Latin America Region) came ready to play. Starting with the pitching. If you didnt catch the pitching staff for Panama, you should have. Carlos Gonzalez was throwing mid 80MPH which in MLB speed is estimated to be about 104MPH. And it wasnt just Gonzalez throwing the heat. Almost all of the outs Panama has had in the entire LLWS have been recorded via the strikeout. Panama hasnt had easy opponets in South Korea (Asia Pacific Region) in the game that would send the winner to the LLWS International Championship. In Little League as they say anything can happen and it did for Panama. South Korea led 2-0 going into the bottom of the 5th and the 11 year old star from Panama, Esmith Pineda, jacked a 3-run bomb over 2 fences and Panama never surrendered a run after that. Panama advances to the International Championship on Saturday. Meanwhile due to South Korea losing they had to play today against the winner from the losers bracket, Mexico. Mexicos starter was ratteled to begin the game and South Korea took advantage and they beat Mexico 7-0 to play Panama in the International Championship. 

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Enough said about International.. The US Side of the Bracket has been just as fun to watch. Especially the team from Maine-Endwell NY who have gotten the job done in the Little League World Series. First off just like Panama their pitching has been dominant. Especially from Michael Mancini. In the game clinching game against Kentucky it was all Jude Abbadessa. He went 5-5 with 6RBI and a triple short of the cycle. He also got it done on the mound as well. Kentucky drops into the losers bracket and they played Tennessee tonight to play for the final spot in the US Championship. Kentucky just was out of pitching and worn out and out of the losers bracket Tennessee pulls off the upset of Kentucky to face Maine Endwell NY in the US Championship game. 

You must be wondering.. How can I watch these games? 

Championship Weekend Schedule: 

Saturday: 

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International Championship- Panama vs. South Korea @12:30 on ABC 

US Championship- Mid Atlantic (NY) vs. Southeast (Tenn) @3:30 on ABC 

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Sunday: 

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LLWS Championship Game- Winner of International vs. Winner of US @ 3:00 on ABC 

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By Jake A. Martino 

Day 1 is complete. There were 4 games yesterday, 2 on the international side, and 2 on the U.S. side. Game one was between Latin America and Mexico. After scoring 4 runs in the top of the 3rd inning, Latin America never looked back, cruising to a 10-2 victory. The 2nd game was between 2 american teams, Rhode Island and New York. Ryan Harlost dominated for New York with 5 strikeouts and 3 hits to lead New York to a 7-2 victory. The final international game of day 1 was between Italy and Australia. This game was dominated by strong pitching from Clayton Campbell, who pitched 5 innings, with 7 strikeouts as Australia won 3-1. The last game was the best one of the day, between the Northwest and Southeast. Robert Carroll of the Southeast team hit a walk-off 2 run double in the bottom of the 6th inning to lead his team to a 3-2 victory. On day 2 we will see Canada, Japan, West, Midwest, Caribbean, Asia-Pacific, Great Lakes, and Southwest.

Ryan Patrick

Great Lakes Regional

Wisconsin 4 -  Illinois 2

Michigan vs. Ohio STILL IN PROGRESS

Mid-Atlantic Regional

Maryland 7 - Pennsylvania 10

New Jersey 6 - New York 8

Midwest Regional

Minnesota 4 - N/S Dakota 3

Kansas 10 - Missouri 6

New England Regional

Maine 8 - Vermont 4

New Hampshire 7 - Connecticut 1

Northwest Regional

Montana 10 - Alaska 2

Wyoming 1 - Washington 15

Southeast Regional

Georgia 4 -North Carolina 2

South Carolina 4 Florida 5

Southwest Regional

Arkansas 3 Louisiana 16

Colorado - Mississippi STILL IN PROGRESS

West Regional

Hawaii 8 -Nevada 0

Northern California vs. Southern California STILL IN PROGRESS

Stay tuned with Upstate Sports Zone for complete coverage of the LLWS!

By Jake Martino

Great Lakes Regional

Wisconsin vs. Illinois 5:00- ESPN3

Michigan vs. Ohio 7:00 ESPN3

Mid-Atlantic Regional

Maryland vs. Pennsylvania 10:00AM ESPN3

New Jersey vs. New York 4:00PM ESPN3

Midwest Regional

Minnesota vs. N/S Dakota 12:00 on ESPN3

Kansas vs. Missouri 2:00 ESPN3

New England Regional

Maine vs. Vermont 1:00 ESPN3

New Hampshire vs. Connecticut 7:00 ESPN3

Northwest Regional

Montana vs. Alaska 11:00AM ESPN3

Wyoming vs. Washington 4:00PM ESPN3

Southeast Regional

Georgia vs. North Carolina 1:00 ESPN3

South Carolina vs. Florida 4:00 ESPN3

Southwest Regional

Arkansas vs. Louisiana 5:00 Longhorn Network

Loser of New Mexico and Colorado vs. Mississippi 8:00 Longhorn Network

West Regional

Hawaii vs. Nevada 8:30AM ESPN3

Northern California vs. Southern California 7:30 ESPN3

Stay tuned with Upstate Sports Zone for complete coverage of the LLWS!

By Jake Martino 

Southwest Regional

Texas West 14 – Arkansas 0

New Mexico – Colorado

Southeast Regional

North Carolina 19- Alabama 0

Virginia 8 – South Carolina 12

West Virginia 7- Florida 3

Georgia 3- Tennessee 6

Stat tuned daily for Upstate Sport Zone coverage of the LLWS!

By Jake A. Martino 

The road to the Little League World Series has begun. The Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, New England, Northwest and West regionals will begin tomorrow and run until the 13th. The Southeast regionals began yesterday and the Southwest began on Thursday. Many of the teams from the International section have already punched their tickets to Williamsport. To find the full schedule go to : http://www.llbws.org/llbbws.htm.

Ryan Patrick