Council Rock Newtown keeps Little League World Series dream alive with shutout of New Hampshire

Council Rock Newtown’s dream of chasing Little League World Series glory is still intact.

Bolstered by a four-run fourth inning, Council Rock Newtown, representing the Mid-Atlantic, is moving on following a 5-0 final against New Hampshire in South Williamsport on Saturday night.

Council Rock Newtown’s starting pitcher, Tyler Neeld, was lights out, throwing two outs shy of a complete game, striking out eight allowing just two hits. Neeld was also strong at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a run scored.

How’s this for interesting: Neeld was pulled with just two outs remaining in the game. Had he been allowed to close it out, his complete game would have been the first of any pitcher in an LLWS game since Mo’ne Davis led the Philadelphia’s Taney Dragons in the LLWS in 2014.

“A lot of people will tell you he’s got ice in his veins,” Neeld’s father, Kyle, who is also an assistant coach with the team, told ESPN. “He showed that tonight.”

Neeld was moved to third base to close out, bringing in Brayden Peiffer, who stepped in and completed the shutout but not before a scary fastball that struck the helmet of New Hampshire’s Zach Bolduc. Still, Peiffer needed just nine pitches to finish off Council Rock Newtown’s impressive rebound performance following its opening-game loss to Texas (Southwest) on Thursday.

Next up for Council Rock Newtown is a date against Illinois, representing the Northwest Region, on Sunday (1 p.m., ESPN). With a win, Council Rock Newtown, playing in the consolation bracket, would finally get a day of rest before continuing on in the United States bracket Tuesday.