South Nashville Little League from Tennessee punched their ticket to Williamsport in a 5-3 win over Tuckahoe American from Virginia to give Tennessee a representative in the Little League World Series for the second year in a row. The contest was locked at 0-0 through the first 2 innings, but Virginia jumped ahead in the top of the 3rd when shaky defense by Tennessee, and a 2-run home run by Mark Buisson gave Virginia a 3-0 lead. However, Tennessee would not stay behind for long.
In the bottom of the 3rd, the bats came alive for the young men from South Nashville. Zane Denton and Trae McElemore delivered a pair of RBI singles to even the score at 3-3 and spark a rally. The decisive blow was delivered later in the inning when Robert Hassell blasted a 2-run home run two push Tennessee ahead 5-3.
Tennessee never looked back and Trae McElmore came on to hold off Virginia, pitching 3 scoreless innings of relief in the 5-3 win. Tennessee now advances to the pool play round of the Little League World Series set to begin on August 15th.