Mexico players celebrate after their win over Puerto Rico after the sixth inning of a baseball game at the Little League World Series, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in South Williamsport, Pa. (AP Photo/Jared Freed)

Trailing by four runs through four innings, Mexico knew that it needed a spark. The team probably didn’t think it would come in the form of two big home runs, though.

Gregorio Madrid took a shot deep over the left-center field wall for a monster grand slam to quickly tie the game before Iker Castaneda would homer shortly thereafter and give Mexico a 6-4 lead in which Mexico never looked back en route to an 11-4 elimination game win at Volunteer Stadium over Puerto Rico to advance.

In total, there were five home runs in Saturday’s game between Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico led 1-0 in the third thanks to a triple by Sebastian Colon Rivera which brought in Derek Delgado Padilla. An error added another run before Azariel Alvarado Medina had a two-run home run for a 4-0 lead.

Two singles in the top of the sixth put Mexico ahead 8-4 from Evan Levario and Ian Cono, respectively. That was followed with a three-run home run by Madrid, his second of the day.

Puerto Rico’s Sebastian Casanova Diaz homered in the sixth to cut the deficit to 11-5.

ILLINOIS 3, PENNSYLVANIA 2

Pennsylvania went down swinging against Illinois, but came up just shy. After trailing 3-0 going into the fourth inning, the Keystone State all-stars scored twice to cut the deficit to one.

Aiden Mercer hit an RBI double to centerfield which scored Marek Kalavik and made it a 3-1 deficit. It would then be Justin Shaw who singled to right to bring in Mercer and make it a 3-2 game.

But Illinois did well limiting Pennsylvania’s offense from there, not allowing a game-tying run and letting momentum shift away.

Liam Harrigan (1 for 2) and Matthe Kalish (1 for 1, RBI) each had doubles for Illinois. The Great Lakes Regional champions scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the third inning.

MASSACHUSETTS 7, TEXAS 3

Texas started the game strong with two runs in the first inning, but Massachusetts didn’t let it rattle them. The New England Regional champions quickly scored three runs of their own in the bottom of the first to tie the game and went on to secure a 7-3 win over the Southwest Regional champions at Lamade Stadium.

Caden McCarthy had a two-RBI triple in the bottom of the first inning to tie up the game at 2-all. He would then score on a wild pitch before Henry Kuka singled to make it a 3-2 Massachusetts lead.

Massachusetts added two more runs in the second inning and scored twice more in the third for a 7-2 lead against Texas.

The Southwest Regional champions would cut the lead to 7-3 when Lucas Sontag singled to bring in Joseph Miller in the fifth, but wouldn’t be able to rally.Sontag went 3 for 3 to lead Texas.

Massachusetts was led by Sam Trotta (2 for 2, two RBIs).

AUSTRALIA 5, CZECHIA 3

Australia pitchers Issei Hamano, Averey Griffin and Preston Reid held Czechia to just one hit at Volunteer Stadium en route to a 5-3 win in an elimination game. With the win, Australia will face Canada.

Hamano played great for Australia on the mound, throwing 4 2/3 innings with 12 strikeouts and no hits allowed with four walks.

Czechia only allowed two hits, both singles as Mikulas Barta threw 1 2/3 innings with two strikeouts and Mikulas Binek threw 3 1/3 innings with three strikeouts.

Czechia’s only hit came from the bat of David Caha (1 for 2, run). Australia was led by Hamano (1 for 2, run), and Ryder Smith (1 for 2).

While neither team’s offense were silent for majority of the game, it was walks which made a difference. Czechia walked eight batters while Australia walked seven.