Fireworks flew in Grosse Pointe’s first game of the 2017 Little League World Series. The boys from Lufkin, Tex. hit back-to-back-to-back home runs in the third inning, effectively sinking Michigan’s hopes for game one. Texas advanced with a final score of 5-1.
The game began as a pitchers’ duel. Lufkin pitcher Hunter Ditsworth had five strikeouts through the first three innings, and Jack Jones of Grosse Pointe had a snappy eight-pitch first inning.
Jones struggled in the second when he threw 32 pitches. Texas outfielder Collin Ross, leading off the inning, homered on the seventh pitch of the at-bat to score the first run of the tournament.