Canada advances at Little League World Series after thrilling win over Panama

By Liam Tremblay — 24 August 2026 — 3 min read

Dramatic Seventh Inning Secures Victory

Canada, represented by Vancouver’s Little Mountain Baseball, secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Panama in an elimination game at the Little League World Series on Monday in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The Canadian team managed to win despite not recording a hit through the regulation six innings, breaking through with a three-run rally in the seventh inning.

The pivotal seventh inning began with Jacob Massel, the automatic runner on second base, advancing to third on a wild pitch. Following a walk that put runners on the corners, Connor Matsuda attempted a bunt. Panama’s pitcher, Dominick M. Saavedra Arauz, fielded the ball cleanly and made a throw home. However, Panama’s catcher, Edwards Díaz, bobbled the ball, allowing Canada to score its first run and take the lead.

Canada continued to build on its lead in the same inning. Connor Ross hit a check-swing single to centre field, driving in another run. An additional run was scored on a fielder’s choice, extending Canada’s lead. These three runs proved crucial as Panama mounted a comeback attempt in the bottom half of the inning.

Panama managed to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Jeickot Sánchez hit a run-scoring double, and later scored on a wild pitch, bringing Panama within one run. However, Canada’s defence held firm, securing the one-run victory and avoiding elimination from the tournament.

Key Performances on the Mound and at the Plate

The Canadian victory was built on strong pitching and timely hitting. Starter Jacob Massel delivered a masterful performance on the mound for Canada, pitching five scoreless innings. During his outing, Massel allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out seven batters. His efforts kept Panama’s offence at bay through the regulation innings, setting the stage for Canada’s late-game heroics.

Panama’s starting pitcher, Obed Fuentes, also delivered an impressive performance, striking out 12 batters and holding Canada hitless through six innings. Fuentes’ dominant outing made Canada’s seventh-inning rally even more remarkable, as they had struggled to generate any offence against him for most of the game.

For Canada, key offensive contributions in the seventh inning came from Connor Matsuda, Connor Ross, and Jason Mezzarobba, who were credited with RBIs. Matsuda’s bunt led to the first run due to a throwing error and a bobbled ball at the plate, while Ross’s single and Mezzarobba’s groundout contributed to the other two runs.

Looking Ahead to the Next Challenge

With this victory, Canada (2-1) advances in the double-elimination tournament. Their next challenge will be another elimination game on Tuesday against South Korea. This upcoming game will be a rematch of the tournament opener, where South Korea defeated Canada by a score of 7-0.

Canada’s path in the tournament has seen them rebound after their initial loss to South Korea. Following that defeat, they secured a 4-0 victory over Australia on Saturday before Monday’s dramatic win against Panama. The team will look to carry the momentum from their recent victories into the crucial rematch against South Korea.

Source: sportsnet.ca