LIVE UPDATES: Middleboro (New England) plays Pennsylvania in Little League World Series

After watching his team drop its opening game in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, Middleboro coach Chad Gillpatrick had a simple plan.

“Let’s keep getting more games, you know?” he said. “Let’s play Saturday and see what happens: win one and get some momentum. Let’s just get some more baseball. I don’t want it to end.”

Gillpatrick’s team, which is representing New England, has one chance to extend its stay in the tournament. Middleboro must beat Mid-Atlantic champ Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, in Saturday’s elimination-round game (7 p.m., ESPN2).

Mike Marzelli of the New England Little League champion Middleboro 12U Nationals fields ground balls during practice at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022.

Middleboro almost dug out of a 5-0 deficit in its opening loss, but Southeast champ Nolensville, Tennessee, flashed some fine defensive skills to preserve a 5-3 win.

More: Middleboro falls in opening game at LLWS: ‘Let’s play Saturday and see what happens’

Hollidaysburg also lost its first game, falling 8-3 to Southwest champ Pearland, Texas.

This is Middleboro’s first trip to Williamsport since 1994. It’s Hollidaysburg’s first-ever visit.

More: MEET TEAM NEW ENGLAND: Middleboro brings hometown flavor to Little League World Series

Unable to catch the action? This page is home of all the updates you need to keep up with what the Middleboro Little League team (Team New England) is up to during its matchup with Team Mid-Atlantic (Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania) on Saturday.

Second inning

Middleboro 1, Hollidaysburg 0

Middleboro (Visitor) — Pitcher Braden Hatch worked around a two-out single to center by Luke Bolduc by getting Jacob Landers to ground into a force play.

Hollidaysburg (Home) — Middleboro pitcher Gavin Gillpatrick works a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout.

First inning

Middleboro 1, Hollidaysburg 0

Middleboro (Visitor) — Middleboro strikes first as Ayden Morris doubles home Mike Marzelli from second base with out. Middleboro strung together three straight hits — singles from Marzelli and Gavin Gillpatrick, followed by Morris’ rocket into the gap — but Hollidaysburg turned Cayden Ellis’ chopper up the first-base line into a 1-3-2 double play to escape further damage.

Story continues

Hollidaysburg (Home) — Gavin Gillpatrick allowed a two-out double to left-center by Caleb Detrick but got Braden Hatch to fly out. Gillpatrick threw 12 pitches, 8 for strikes.

LINEUPS New England (Middleboro)

No. 18 Jayden Murphy, SS

No. 10 Mike Marzelli, 2B

No. 15 Gavin Gillpatrick, P

No. 19 Ayden Morris, 1B

No. 14 Cayden Ellis, CF

No. 5 Reece Trottier, RF

No. 7 Nathan Mello, LF

No. 8 Luke Bolduc, 3B

No. 12 Jacob Landers, C

Mid-Atlantic (Hollidaysburg, Penn.)

No. 10 Tyler McGough, SS

No. 18 Chase Link, C

No. 9 Caleb Detrick, RF

No. 19 Braden Hatch, P

No. 7 Beau Rabel, 2B

No. 13 Alex Dively, LF

No. 14 Brody Dull, 1B

No. 4 Aspen Anderson, CF

No. 6 Nate Phillips, 3B

GAME OUTCOMES

If Middleboro wins: another elimination-game matchup against Metro champ Massapequa, New York, Sunday at 2 p.m. on ABC.

If Middleboro loses: the team is eliminated.

MEET THE TEAM

New jersey numbers were issued for the LLWS.

Middleboro 12U Nationals Shawn Miller celebrates at the conclusion of their game versus Bangor East, Maine at Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut for the New England Regional tournament on Thursday, August 11, 2022.

No. 4 Shawn Miller, OF

Middleboro 12U Nationals Reece Trottier carries the New England jersey around the field at the conclusion of their game versus Bangor East, Maine at Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut for the New England Regional tournament on Thursday, August 11, 2022.

No. 5 Reece Trottier, OF

Middleboro 12U Nationals pitcher Joe Monteforte throws out the runner at first base during a game versus Bangor East, Maine at the Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut for the New England Regional tournament on Monday, August 8, 2022.

No. 6 Joe Monteforte, OF

Middleboro 12U Nationals Nathan Mello batting during a game versus Bangor East, Maine at the Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut for the New England Regional tournament on Monday, August 8, 2022.

No. 7 Nathan Mello, OF

Middleboro 12U Nationals Luke Bolduc congratulates pitcher Jacob Landers during a game versus Bangor East, Maine at Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut for the New England Regional tournament on Thursday, August 11, 2022.

No. 8 Luke Bolduc, 3B

Aaron Davis during the Middleboro 12U Nationals team celebration and send-off at Fields of Dreams on Thursday, August 4, 2022 for their trip to Bristol, Connecticut, to compete in the Little League New England Regionals.

No. 9 Aaron Davis, OF

Middleboro 12U Nationals Mike Marzelli scores the games first run versus Bangor East, Maine at Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut for the New England Regional tournament on Thursday, August 11, 2022.

No. 10 Mike Marzelli, 2B

Middleboro 12U Nationals Jacob Landers celebrates a strikeout during a game versus Wellesley at Dunn Little League Complex at Hollingsworth Park in Braintree on Sunday, July 31, 2022.

No. 12 Jacob Landers, P/C

Middleboro 12U Nationals pitcher Cayden Ellis delivers a pitch during a game versus Bangor East, Maine at the Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut for the New England Regional tournament on Monday, August 8, 2022.

No. 14 Cayden Ellis, OF

Middleboro 12U Nationals Gavin Gillpatrick trots around the bases after hitting a home run to end the game versus Concord, New Hampshire and is congratulated by manager Chad Gillpatrick at Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut for the New England Regional tournament on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

No. 15 Gavin Gillpatrick, C/SS/P

Middleboro 12U Nationals Jayden Murphy, center, led the game off with a home run versus Concord, New Hampshire at Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut for the New England Regional tournament on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

No. 18 Jayden Murphy, P/SS

Middleboro 12U Nationals Ayden Morris celebrates his double during a game versus Concord, New Hampshire at Bartlett Giamatti Little League Leadership Training Center in Bristol, Connecticut for the New England Regional tournament on Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

No. 19 Ayden Morris, 1B

Middleboro 12U Nationals (New England) manager Chad Gillpatrick, right, takes a selfie with coaches from left, Glenn Marzelli and Joe Trottier before opening ceremonies at Volunteer Stadium at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, PA on Wednesday, August 17, 2022.

Manager: Chad Gillpatrick Assistant Coaches: Glenn Marzelli and Joe Trottier

This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: LIVE UPDATES: Middleboro plays in Little League World Series