Breaking News
Little League Extra

Rhode Island holds off Nevada to start 1-0

By Chris Masse 4 min read

A closer look at the 3-1 Smithfield, Rhode Island win over Henderson, Nevada, Wednesday at Lamade Stadium

PLAY OF THE GAME -- Brayden Castellone's final pitch: For a second straight game, Castellone was called upon to seal a big win. For a second straight time, he delivered. With the tying runs on base, the righty maintained his poise and came up clutch. Castellone clinched victory with a four-pitch strikeout, giving Smithfield its fourth straight win since regionals.

RHODE ISLAND PLAYER OF THE GAME --Connor Curtis: The fireballing lefty was absolutely brilliant. Again. Coming off a stellar performance in the Metro final, Curtis picked up where he left off, scattering two hits in 5 2/3 innings, while striking out 15 and walking none. Curtis took a perfect game into the fourth inning, a no-hitter into the fifth and walked none. Highlighting, his dominance, Curtis induced 28 swings and misses. Over his last two outings, Curtis has surrendered just three hits and struck out 29 in 11 innings.

NEVADA OF THE GAME -- Nolan Gifford: Curtis was not the only ace who was dealing yesterday. Gifford did not allow a hit for a second straight performance, throwing three no-hit innings and striking out eight. The hard-throwing righty threw a four-inning perfect game in the Mountain Region final and has limited three opponents to one hit since regionals started. He also has 35 strikeouts in those outings.

BIG INNING--Rhode Island fourth: The New England champions led 1-0 but produced two massive insurance runs without a hit and went up by three. Brayden Castellone and Brady McShane were hit by pitches before Mason Dionne reached on an error. Castellone and McShane then scored on wild pitches and gave Rhode Island a 3-0 cushion which felt more like 13-0 the way Curtis was throwing.

BEST EFFORT--Nevada's sixth-inning rally: Nevada was down to its last out with nobody on base, but kept battling and made it interesting. Mason Walther walked and Chase Daley singled before Castellone closed it out.

FLASHING LEATHER--There was not a lot of contact throughout the game, but Nevada second baseman Joe Joe Carque made a nice play to close the second when he charged after a slow roller. Carque then made a quick throw against his body and threw to first baseman Arlie Daniel for the final out, stranding two runners. Nevada made another big play in the bottom of the fifth and stifled a Rhode Island rally. Following a dropped third strike, catcher Jaxson McMullin quickly recovered and made a quick throw to Daniel at first. Almost as soon as he caught the ball, Daniel had it out of his hand, hitting McMullin chest high. McMullin made a quick tag and completed the inning-ending double play.

HOME RUNS: Jaxson McMullin delivered the game's first hit in emphatic fashion, driving a long home run to dead center field and pulling Nevada within, 3-1. McMullin launched a towering fly after falling behind in the count 1-1 and snapped a streak of five straight Curtis strikeouts.

WHAT THE ADULTS SAY--"It's the system. We've been running that system since districts. (It's 80-85 (pitches), bring in Brayden, give me a heart attack; close it out every game," Rhode Island manager Eric Gibree said. "When Brayden is on and he spots his fastball he's incredibly hard to hit and his slider is filthy. That is going to be the plan when he's available."

"I expect a completely different game when we come out there. It doesn't matter who we play," Nevada manager Ryan Gifford said about his team's next game. "We're going to come out and I think you'll see a better product out there. You'll see kids stepping up and doing the job."

WHAT THE KIDS SAY--"Through the first three innings I felt really good on the mound. I felt like this was the most perfect appearance I've had on the mound this year," Curtis said. "Going through it all, it was like a big journey throughout. I was just sailing pitches through and it was working."

WHAT IT MEANS-- Rhode Island moves on in the winner's bracket and will play 2022 U.S. Runner-up Nolensville, Tennessee Friday, back at Lamade Stadium. Nevada will be playing its first elimination game since the district tournament against Paseo Verde, Nevada Saturday when it faces the loser of Thursday's Ohio-California game.

Starting at /week.