Nolensville beats Massachusetts 5-3 in Little League World Series opener

Joseph Spears, Nashville Tennessean
·2 min read

Not even Mother Nature could dampen Nolensville's first day in the Little League World Series on Wednesday in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Following a nearly three-hour rain delay, Nolensville was able to hold on for a 5-3 win over Massachusetts.  Nolensville will play Santa Clara, Utah, on  Friday (2 p.m. CT, ESPN) in a winners bracket game.

William Satinoff provided the game's first real offensive output with a hard-hit ground ball to left field that dropped just past Massachusetts' left fielder scoring Nash Carter to make in 1-0 in the top of the second inning.

Nolensville added to its lead in the third inning with four runs. Josiah Porter hit a single to left field that drove in Wright Martin and Bo Daniel. A few batters later, Satinoff hit a ground ball up the middle to score Porter and Drew Chadwick.

Massachusetts finally scored  in the third with two runs and looked to do more damage in the fourth loading the bases with one out.

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Nolensville went with a pitching change as Carter came in to relieve Trent McNiel. Carter got the force out at second but Massachusetts scored a run on the play to trail 5-3. After walking the next batter, Massachusetts's Jayden Murphy hit a hard shot to left but Chadwick made the play at third jumping to catch it and end the inning.

That would be the last of the action for nearly two hours as lightning several miles away eventually turned into a storm that delayed the game for 2 hours and 28 minutes.

Nolensville, Tennessee shortstop William Satinoff, left, celebrates with teammate Drew Chadwick, center, after making a throw from his knees to first to get the final out of the second inning of a baseball game against Middleborough, Mass., at the Little League World Series baseball tournament in South Williamsport, Pa, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Once the game resumed, both teams struggled to get their bats going as a walk in the fifth by Nolensville was the lone runner on base between the teams.

Nolensville had a chance to add on to its lead in the sixth but left the bases loaded giving Massachusetts one more opportunity to tie or win the game.

Carter wasn't going to let that happen. He Carter would strike out the next two batters he faced and a pop up to center field secured the win for Nolensville.

Reach Joe Spears at jspears2@gannett.com. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @joe_spears7.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Little League World Series: Nolensville beats Massachusetts 5-3, will play Friday