There are only four teams still alive in the Little League Softball World Series, and that number will be down to two after the semifinals on Saturday, Aug. 9. The first semifinal game featured Indiana taking on North Carolina.
Fittingly, North Carolina won the North Carolina regional. Indiana won the Central regional to clinch a spot in the playoffs. North Carolina beat Iwate, Japan, 3-2, to earn its semifinal spot.
The way the bracket worked out, Indiana also beat Iwate, but in the final elimination game, winning 1-0 to clinch its spot. Double eliminations are a thing of the past. The semifinal matchup between Indiana and North Carolina was winner-takes-all, with the winner advancing to the championship on Sunday.
Indiana mustered only three hits during the game, but it was enough to notch the semifinal win. Neither team scored a run in regulation, and we needed extra innings to determine a winner. They used the extra innings rules we see in MLB, so a runner started on second. After bunting the runner to third and the batter being safe on the back end, Indiana plated two. North Carolina couldn’t muster any offense and their first loss of the tournament ended up being a big one.
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The Sporting News has you covered with the final scores, results, highlights, and more as North Carolina takes on Indiana in the Little League Softball World Series semifinals.
Little League Softball World Series scoreboard
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | F |
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Little League Softball World Series softball updates, highlights from North Carolina vs. Indiana
All times ET
4:11 p.m. — North Carolina’s first batter hit a hard ball to deep center, but it was caught. The runner who started the inning on second, advanced to third.
The next batter hit a weak pop fly to the shortstop, who had to take one step into the outfield grass to catch it. The third batter of the inning struck out and the game is over.
4:03 p.m. — Similar to what we see in MLB, a runner starts on second in extra innings. Indiana bunted their runner to third, and the batter was safe on the back end. The runner on first stole second on the next pitch.
We got our first run of the game on a groundout to first. A second run scored on a hard ground out to second. After another hit and a ground out, the inning ends. North Carolina will have to score two to keep the game alive, while three will win it.
3:56 p.m. — North Carolina had a two-out single up the middle, which put the game-winning run on first base. The next pitch was a ground out to second, so we are heading to extras.
3:49 p.m. — Indiana got one base runner on, but the inning ended on an impressive ground out after the ball hit off the third baseman’s glove but right to the shortstop. North Carolina will have a chance to walk it off in the bottom of the inning.
3:38 p.m. — North Carolina had a walk and then our first hit to get to the outfield. They had runners on first and second with only one out. North Carolina then struck out and grounded out to second. Neither team was able to score a run through five innings.
3:26 p.m. — North Carolina’s southpaw pitcher struggled, and Indiana had two on with one out. She fielded a ground ball and went for the force at third for the second out of the inning. It looked like Indiana had blooped one into the outfield, but it wasn’t hit as clean as it appeared and fell into the shortstop’s glove.
3:16 p.m. — North Carolina had runners on first and second with two outs. They couldn’t make anything out of it and the game remains scoreless through four.
3:04 p.m. — Indiana draws a leadoff walk to start the fourth inning. Two strike outs and a ground out later, though the top half of the frame ends with no runs.
2:55 p.m. — North Carolina goes three up, three down quickly in the bottom of the third. All tied at the halfway mark.
2:50 p.m. — Indiana got a runner on with one out. She was moved to second on a bunt, and then to third on a passed ball. Indiana couldn’t get her in as the inning ended with a pop fly to center.
2:41 p.m. — North Carolina tried to go with a hit and run with two outs, but the batter swung through the pitch and Indiana’s catcher threw out the runner to end the inning.
2:34 p.m. — North Carolina gets through the top of the second inning as Indiana goes three up, three down.
She made the throw from her knees 🎯
📺: LLSWS – Orange Championship now on ESPN and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/UYIY1VCy76
— ESPN (@espn) August 9, 2025
2:27 p.m. — North Carolina got two on with two outs, but couldn’t take advantage and the game remains tied at 0 heading into the second.
2:17 p.m. — Indiana gets one runner on after North Carolina’s first basemen made an error, but that is all they can muster.
2:08 p.m. — First pitch is coming up. Indiana will be the away team, while North Carolina gets to fittingly play at home.
Little League Softball World Series semifinals start time, channel today
- Date: Saturday, August 9
- Start time: 2 p.m. ET
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live stream: ESPN+, Fubo
The first semifinal matchup of the 2025 Little League Softball World Series will take place on Saturday, August 9. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET, weather permitting. The game will air on ESPN, but can be live streamed on Fubo and ESPN+.
Fubo has ESPN in its channel lineup.
Little League Softball World Series rosters
Here are the rosters for North Carolina (North Carolina region)
North Carolina (North Carolina region)
| Number | Player | Position | B/T |
| 2 | Gemma Braxton | CF | R/R |
| 3 | Aliyah Harris | 2B/RF | R/R |
| 4 | Isabella Ford | C | R/R |
| 5 | Emily Mills | P/OF | R/R |
| 8 | Avery Cash | SS/C | R/R |
| 10 | Lily Nichols | RF/SS | R/R |
| 12 | Abby Pohlplatz | 3B/RF | R/R |
| 13 | Skylar Powers | OF/2B/SS | R/R |
| 14 | Kenzie Brown | 1B | L/R |
| 15 | Makayla Montgomery | P/1B/OF | L/L |
| 16 | Caroline Reynolds | UTIL/OF/P | L/R |
| 17 | Ava Wilson | 2B/OF | R/R |
Coaching staff: Derrick Reynolds, Steve Ford, Gerren Brown (manager)
Indiana (Central)
| Number | Player | Position | B/T |
| 2 | Scarlett Renn | 2B/SS | L/R |
| 7 | Izzy Campbell | RF | R/R |
| 8 | Reese Carroll | C | L/R |
| 9 | Alyvia Kolish | CF | R/R |
| 10 | Grace Fiore | P/SS | R/R |
| 12 | Briley Mercer | P/2B | R/R |
| 13 | Aubrey Whittemore | 1B | R/R |
| 14 | Sawyer Abel | LF | L/R |
| 15 | Dru Drummond | 1B | R/R |
| 19 | Kennedy Nickels | 3B | R/R |
| 22 | Kye DeSpain | 2B/OF | R/R |
| 23 | Kylie Ramsey | 3B | R/R |
Coaching staff: Dan Abel, Brad Mercer and J.R. Drummond (manager)