East Hanover, New Jersey, and Massapequa Coast, New York, Little League teams won their first Metro Region Tournament games on Saturday in Bristol, Connecticut, to advance to the Little League World Series.
East Hanover defeated East Lyme, Conn., 3-0, thanks to Anthony Abrantes and RJ Gossweiler on the mound and at the plate.
According to the Daily Record, Abrantes pitched 4 1/3 innings and scored a run, while Gossweiler earned the save and drove in a run.
He gave up one run in 4 2/3 innings, on a solo homer by Connor Curtis, and also hit a two-run double in Massapequa's seven-run fifth inning that put the game out of reach.
Massapequa and East Hanover will face off in the winner's bracket on Monday at 1 p.m.
Massapequa's team has previously competed in the Little League World Series.East Lyme and Smithfield will face off in the elimination round on Sunday at 7 p.m.
The winner of the Sunday game will face the loser of the Wednesday game between Massapequa and East Hanover at 7 p.m.
The winners from Monday and Wednesday will compete in the Metro Region championship on Friday at 7 p.m. for a position in the World Series, which begins Aug. 16 in Williamsport, Pa.