The final game of day three at the 2016 Little League World Series was an elimination game featuring the team from California, representing the West region, and the team from Texas, representing the Southwest region. California ended up taking home the win to keep their season alive thanks to a dominant pitching performance from Victor Lizarraga.
California scored right away in the top of the first when Ali Camarillo led off with a triple and scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-0 in favor of California. After a strikeout, Lucas Marrujo was hit by a pitch. He made it to third base when he scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0.
They picked up another run in the second inning when Daniel Leon led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout by JuJu Padilla, and scored on a passed ball to extend the California lead to 3-0.
They picked up their final two runs in the third when Marrujo led off with his second hit by pitch of the night. He scored two batters later when Devin Hinojosa launched a home run to extend the lead to 5-0.
Neither team scored after that, as California's starting pitcher, Lizarraga, was absolutely dominant, as he went the full six innings, giving up just two hits while notching nine strikeouts all while throwing just 82 pitches on the night. Dominic Tellis took the loss for Texas, as he went five innings while giving up all five runs while notching six strikeouts and no walks. Rilan Quinores pitched the sixth inning for Texas, giving up a walk but no runs and no hits while throwing 19 pitches.
Camarillo was the top hitter on the night for California, as he went 2-3 with one run scored. Texas only had two hits all night, as Brody Ticer and Gibson Maldanado both got one hit a piece, with Maldanado hitting a double in the sixth inning, although he did not score as a lineout to third and two strikeouts stranded him at second base, which was the furthest that anyone from Texas got during the game.
Both teams now get a much-needed day off, as California now advances to play on Monday against the winner of Sunday's Southeast - Mid-Atlantic game. Texas also gets to play one more game, as they will play Tuesday against Japan, who also has been eliminated from the tournament, in a friendly game. That game will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET. California's game will begin at 8 p.m. ET. Both games will be played at Howard J. Lamade Stadium.