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.

Fifth inning

Middleboro 3, Hollidaysburg 7

Middleboro (Visitor) — Middleboro scores twice to get back within 4-3. Jacob Landers started the rally by getting hit by a pitch with one out. Jayden Murphy doubled him home and Mike Marzelli followed with an RBI single. Gavin Gillpatrick then singled Marzelli to second, but Hollidaysburg called on reliever Aspen Anderson to record the final two outs.

Hollidaysburg (Home) — The Mid-Atlantic champs stretched their lead on Caleb Detrick’s RBI single (that made it 5-3) and Jackson Boob’s two-run single to center that made it 7-3 and chased Gavin Gillpatrick in favor of reliever Aaron Davis. Nathan Mello’s diving catch in left field started a 7-6-2 double play as Middleboro escaped further damage.

Story continues

Fourth inning

Middleboro 1, Hollidaysburg 4

Middleboro (Visitor) — Pinch-hitter Aaron Davis drew a two-out walk against relief pitcher Tyler McGough, who had started the game at shortstop, but Middleboro does not score.

Hollidaysburg (Home) — Chase Link’s leadoff home run to straightaway center field tied the score at 1-1, and the Mid-Atlantic champs tacked on three more runs for a 4-1 lead on an RBI groundout by Jackson Boob and back-to-back RBI singles by Easton Metzger and Aspen Anderson.

Third inning

Middleboro 1, Hollidaysburg 0

Middleboro (Visitor) — Middleboro went down 1-2-3.

Hollidaysburg (Home) — Another 1-2-3 inning for Middleboro pitcher Gavin Gillpatrick, who has retired seven in a row since Caleb Detrick’s two-out double in the first.

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.

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