SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — South Carolina snuck into the Little League World Series with a five-run rally over the defending champs. But the club from Irmo, representing the Southeast region, is showing it belongs at the tournament, thanks in part to slugger-pitcher Joe Guiletti.

In the sixth inning of the regional final, the 2024 champions from Lake Mary, Florida, opted to walk Joe rather than face him with the game on the line. The decision came back to bite Lake Mary as Brady Westbrooks hit a walkoff three-run double to win that game 5-4.

When South Carolina made its LLWS debut on Thursday against Braintree, Massachusetts, Joe got his chance to hit and made the most of it. He doubled in his first at-bat and, with the bases loaded in the second inning, Joe smoked a line drive to

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