(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Little League Softball World Series 2025: Day 5 Highlights and Scores
Day 5 of the 2025 Little League Softball World Series delivered thrilling matchups, standout performances, and key wins that shaped the path to the finals in both the purple and orange brackets.
🟣 Purple Bracket: Pennsylvania Secures Shutout Victory
Pennsylvania continued its dominant run with a 1-0 win over Oklahoma, marking their second consecutive shutout. The star of the game was pitcher Reagan Bills, who struck out nine batters and allowed only three hits in a complete-game performance.
The game’s only run came in the fifth inning, sparked by back-to-back fielding errors. Nevaeh Worthington reached second base, advanced to third, and scored on a misplayed grounder by Oklahoma’s first baseman.
Despite late-game pressure, Bills stayed composed, striking out Oklahoma’s final batter to seal the win and secure Pennsylvania’s place in the purple bracket final on Saturday.
Oklahoma isn’t out yet—they’ll face Florida on Friday in an elimination match. The winner will challenge Pennsylvania, needing to beat them twice to reach the championship.
🟠Orange Bracket: North Carolina Continues Their Streak
In front of their home crowd, North Carolina defeated Japan in a close 3-2 battle to earn a spot in the orange bracket final.
Pitcher Makayla Montgomery played a key role once again, retiring the final eight batters and holding off a late surge from Japan. North Carolina has now won eight straight LLSWS games, a streak dating back to last year’s title-winning campaign.
North Carolina will face the winner of Japan vs. Indiana, an elimination game set for Friday evening on ESPN2.
Game Recap: North Carolina vs. Japan
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Japan Strikes First: Japan scored two early runs in the top of the first inning, pressuring North Carolina right out of the gate.
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North Carolina Responds: The defending champions answered immediately with two runs in the bottom half and nearly scored a third, if not for a great running catch by Japan’s center fielder.
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Costly Error: In the third inning, a walk, an infield single, and a shortstop error allowed North Carolina to take the lead.
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Smart Defense: Japan opted not to challenge a close call, saving their review for a potentially bigger play—but the decision proved costly.
Defensive Battle: Pennsylvania vs. Oklahoma
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Pitching Duel: The game started as a showcase of elite pitching. Oklahoma’s Harmoneigh White struck out seven batters through the first three innings. Bills matched that energy with clutch outs and smart pitching.
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Missed Opportunities: Oklahoma’s best chance came with the bases loaded and one out in the fourth, but Bills shut the door with a strikeout and a flyout.
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Momentum Shift: Pennsylvania capitalized on back-to-back Oklahoma errors in the fifth to score the game’s only run.
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Catchers on Display: Both teams’ catchers caught runners stealing in the first inning, setting the tone for a tight, defense-first game.
What’s Next?
The Little League Softball World Series action continues on Friday at Stallings Stadium in North Carolina with high-stakes elimination games in both brackets. Don’t miss:
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Oklahoma vs. Florida (Purple Bracket)
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Japan vs. Indiana (Orange Bracket)
Winners will move one step closer to a shot at the LLSWS title.
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